Evaluation of the intestinal barrier and myenteric neural plasticity of the duodenum of Wistar rats exposed to environmental contaminant Tributyltin (TBT)

• Grant number: 22/11044-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: September 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Biological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Renata de Britto Mari
• Grantee: Isabelly Cristina Correia dos Santos de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB-CLP). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista. São Vicente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In view of the high urbanization and large industrial activities, coastal areas are more susceptible to degradation, especially when it comes to the production of xenobiotics, which are mostly discarded incorrectly. In the marine environment, port activities are responsible for a significant part of the production of xenobiotics, which are released directly into the ocean, as ballast water and the use of biocides to prevent biofouling on ships. An effective and widely used biocide is tributyltin (TBT), whose effects show alarming consequences for marine fauna. In this sense, considering the socio-environmental importance of coastal environments, it is necessary to understand and mitigate the impacts of TBT on the ecosystem. Thus, considering the route of exposure to the contaminant, the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) acts as an important barrier against pathogens and other harmful substances present in the intestinal lumen. In this sense, the TGI is a potential biomarker to understand the consequences of these contaminants in the organism and ecosystem. In this sense, the present work aims to investigate the effect of subchronic exposure to the antifouling agent Tributyltin (TBT), widely used in the naval industry and with high toxic potential on the intestinal barrier and on the myenteric neuronal plasticity of the duodenum of young male Wistar rats. adults. For this purpose, male Wistar rats will receive TBT at concentrations of 20 ng/g TBT and 600 ng/g TBT via gavage for 60 consecutive days. After the experimental period, the animals will be euthanized and the duodenum will be collected and destined to evidence the subpopulation of metabolically active neurons and to analyze the neuronal wall. The results obtained will be submitted to the Shapiro-Wilk and Levene test, the results obtained will be analyzed by the One-way ANOVA test, while those that do not pass will be submitted to the Kruskal Wallis test, being expressed as mean ± standard deviation with level of significance of 5%.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

OLIVEIRA, I. C. C. S.; MARINSEK, G. P.; CORREIA, L. V. B.; DA SILVA, R. C. B.; CASTRO, I. B.; MARI, R. B.. Tributyltin (TBT) toxicity: Effects on enteric neuronal plasticity and intestinal barrier of rats' duodenum. AUTONOMIC NEUROSCIENCE-BASIC & CLINICAL, v. 253, p. 9-pg., 2024-04-25. (14/07793-9, 22/11044-8)