Toxicopathic effects of waterborne Cd in sole juveniles, a prospective pollution monitoring sentinel for estuarine ecosystems

Introduction Estuarine ecosystems are under high anthropogenic pressure and receive a wide Q7 variety of contaminants, including metals. They can remain trapped in estuarine sediments at concentrations for long periods but eventually they be released to the overlying water become toxic resident benthic biota. As consequence, biomonitoring programs surveying health status estuaries coastal areas count with species assessment disturbances these specific ecosystems. The present investigation aims recognizing toxicopathic effects elicited life stages fish Solea senegalensis on exposure waterborne Cd, model compound metal contamination. Methods Biological responses were assessed based application “biomarker + histopathology” approach. Two-year old sole juveniles exposed various Cd 3 7 days (Control; Low Cd: 1 µg/l; Mid 10 µg/l High 1000 µg/l). Liver samples collected chemical analysis day 7. biochemical (brain liver), histochemical (liver) histopathological (liver, gills gonad). Results Brain acetyl cholinesterase was inhibited after exposure, indicating neurotoxic µg Cd/l. Hepatic catalase glutathione-Stransferase induced 7, which suggests bell-shaped response. A dose-dependent lysosomal membrane destabilization hepatocytes recorded In parallel, lesions gills, liver gonad more frequent soles concentrations. Discussion Overall, approach revealed that causes upon environmentally relevant (10 Cd/l). clearly time dependent, thus it is conceivable severe biological would by low longer periods. Therefore, biomarkers histopathology combination provide early-warning indications altered juveniles, prospective sentinel contamination pollution monitoring areas.