Analysis of the effects of polluted environments exposure on the early aging of gills and liver in fish

• Grant number: 11/22166-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2012
• End date: October 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Mutagenesis
• Principal Investigator: Flavio Henrique Caetano
• Grantee: Flavio Henrique Caetano
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Biodegradable detergents are one of the compounds most dumped in rivers, which still cause suspicion over the subject of being or not pollutants. Pollutants here would be, in general, chemical substances released on aquatic environments that can cause changes in the organisms living at the area. In view of the population's growing concern on the effects of pollutants released in nature and its action over the fauna, this study aims to verify the effects of two types of situations: water from Lago Azul; water with a known dilution of biodegradable detergents (with the same water used on control groups). This data will be compared to a control group treated with pure water, obtained from artesian well at UNESP - campus of Rio Claro, which is chlorinated according to the standards required by SABESP. The fish to be used will be from the specie Prochilodus lineatus (curimbatá). Analysis will identify histological and ultra-structural changes on gills and liver. The effects of pollutants in the water of Lago Azul and the detergent dilution on early aging will also be analyzed on these organs, by means of a lipofuscin quantifying analysis. Lipofuscin is a fluorescent pigment formed by a complex of proteins that accumulates with cellular aging. The analysis will be through histological, ultra-structural, fluorescence and molecular biology techniques. (AU)