Response of hepatic biomarkers in Physalaemus nattereri (Anura) to different benzo(alpha)pyrene exposure routes

Author(s)

de Lacerda Valverde, Bruno Serra ; Utsunomiya, Heidi Samantha Moraes ; dos Santos Carvalho, Cleoni ; Franco-Belussi, Lilian ; de Oliveira, Classius

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ECOTOXICOLOGY; v. 31, n. 3, p. 8-pg., 2022-02-18.

Abstract

For over 40 years, anurans have been used as a study model to assess the adverse effects of benzo(alpha)pyrene (B alpha P), which include genotoxic, hepatotoxic, and immunotoxic effects. In these studies, B alpha P is administered cutaneously or by injection, with no comparison between two or more routes. The purpose of this study is to assess whether the effect of B alpha P is influenced by its route of administration, using the response of hepatic biomarkers of Physalaemus nattereri. Specimens (n = 108) were collected and divided into three experimental treatments (cutaneous, injection, and oral) and three experimental times (one, three, and seven days). Specimens received 0.02 ml of pure mineral oil (control) or mineral oil containing 2 mg/kg of B alpha P. The B alpha P causes changes in morphological (melanin, hemosiderin, lipofuscin, and mast cells) and biochemical (superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase) hepatic biomarkers. Compared to biochemical, morphological biomarkers underwent a greater number of significant changes due to the treatment with B alpha P. The route of exposure alters the effects of B alpha P, mainly seen in morphological biomarkers, especially the pigments melanin, hemosiderin, and lipofuscin. In these pigments, the effect of the exposure pathway changes according to the analyzed biomarker, and the exposure time modulates the exposure pathway effect. These results are unprecedented for anurans and contribute to the field of herpetology and ecotoxicology. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/01078-7 - The liver of anuran amphibians: morphology compared between 10 species and action of benzopyrene in the melanomacrophages of Physalaemus cuvieri
• Grantee: Classius de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/23781-9 - Ecotoxicological evaluation of water from the Sorocaba river using an integrated analysis of biochemical and morphological biomarkers in bullfrog tadpoles, Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw, 1802).
• Grantee: cleoni dos santos carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants