Effects of carbamazepine, a neuropharmaceutical of emerging concern, on the energy metabolism of males of Astyanax lacustris (Teleostei: Characiformes)

• Grant number: 23/17846-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton
• Grantee: Guilherme de Aguiar
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/16280-7 - Hazard assessment of bio-based nanoplastics for freshwater biota, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Energetic metabolism is a crucial physiological process through which occurs thetransformation of energy and energetic substrates, the production of adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) molecules and, simultaneously, the release of reactive oxygen species,which are degraded by enzymes to prevent damages to the organisms. The presence ofpollutants in the environment can impact these metabolic processes and, considering theincreasing presence of emerging contaminants in the environment over the last decades,there is a growing concern about their effects on non target organisms. Among thesecontaminants, carbamazepine (CBZ), an important neuropharmaceutical has beenfrequently detected in various ecosystems, and its effects are still poorly known. Giventhat physiological changes have been observed in some organisms exposed to thisneuropharmaceutical, the objective of this project is to understand the potential impact ofCBZ on the energetic metabolism, oxidative balance, and fatty acid profile in adult maleteleosts Astyanax lacustris . To this, fish will be exposed to environmentally relevantconcentrations of CBZ control (DMSO), 250 ng L 1 , 500 ng L 1 and 1250 ng L 1 ) for 7days. After this period, the animals will be anesthetized and euthanized for the analyse ofthe concentration of the energetic substrates, antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid damage,and alterations in fatty acid profile in different tissues.