Biomarkers of damage and protection in Mytilus galloprovincialis cross transplanted in Ria Formosa Lagoon (Portugal)

Abstract

The study was carried out to check the water contamination in two sites of Ria Formosa Lagoon by assessing the damage responses versus protection in the gills and digestive gland (Dg) of mussels--Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk. Damage was assessed as DNA integrity and lipid peroxidation (LPO) while protection was evaluated by measuring catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), total glutathione (GSHt) and metallothioneins (MT). Mussels were collected in March of 2007 at Ramalhete (R) as a reference site and Faro port (F) as harbour area. Cross transplantation was from R to F and vice versa performed during 0, 3 and 6 days. Gills DNA integrity decrease was observed in mussels transplanted to F (3 days) and R (6 days). Highest Dg LPO was found in mussels sampled at R. Elevated gills CAT, GPx, GR and GST was observed in mussels transplanted to F. Dg GSHt decreased in mussels transplanted to F. Gills and Dg mussels MT increased in mussels transplanted to R. M. galloprovincialis responses show their capability as early warning signals of the contaminants presence. The adopted approach, considering simultaneously protection responses and damaging effects, also revealed its usefulness on the pollution assessment.

Trace metal and biomarker levels in tissues ofArgopecten purpuratusin the north of Chile, and the potential use of this species as a bioindicator of metallic stress

“…This increase has also been reported in other bays that show some degree of pollution caused by municipal outfall, with an increase in GST expression observed in the digestive gland and gills of the scallop Argopecten gibbus (Quinn et al 2005). Additionally, an effect was observed in the gills of Mytilus galloprovincialis in lakes with high tourist activity, caused by activation of detoxification processes (Maria et al 2009). In another study on the same organism, Cu treatments led to an increase of GST activity in the digestive gland as well as in the gills; this decreased the total amount of GSH possibly reflecting an increased utilization of GSH in conjugation reactions involved in the metabolism of lipid hydroperoxide and carbonyl compounds formed by the Cu-induced peroxidation of cellular membranes (Canesi et al 1999).…”

A multibiomarker approach in the clam Ruditapes decussatus to assess the impact of pollution in the Ria Formosa lagoon, South Coast of Portugal

“…The present study was undertaken at the middle region of the lagoon, in the most important shellfish bed area within this ecosystem, which accommodates one the major fishing harbours in the South Coast of Portugal. This area is known to be affected by contaminants due to intensive boat traffic and magnitude of fish products in an area of reduced hydrodynamic conditions (Bebianno et al, 2007;Coelho et al, 2002;Cravo et al, 2009;Maria et al, 2009). …”

“…Field studies that include a multibiomarker approach allow measurements of the impact of several environ--mental stressors. This approach has been very successful with invertebrates and nowadays it is a recommended tool for envi--ronmental monitoring programs (Bebianno et al, 2004;Cravo et al, 2009;Maria et al, 2009;Porte et al, 2001;Viarengo et al, 2007). Therefore, the aim of this study was to apply a suite of biomarkers in an attempt to understand the time and space contamination trend within this ecosystem and its potential adverse effect on clams.…”

Integrated assessment of biomarker responses in caged shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei) exposed to complex contaminants from the Maluan Bay of China

“…The reason may be that xenobiotics from West Sea but not measured in the present study affect those activities, because the harbor waters present a complex mixture of contaminants, which may affect free radical processes and, hence, may alter free radical scavenging systems, such as antioxidant enzyme activities (Livingstone 2001). Furthermore, biomarker responses to contaminants not only depend on the degree of pollution and its composition, but on their exposure routes not limited to dissolved and particulate sources, which indirectly influence their effects (Maria et al 2009). …”