한빛사 논문
인천대학교
Md. Niamul Haquea,b,#, Sang-Eun Nama,#, Young-Seok Hanc, Hyoung Sook Parkd,*, Jae-Sung Rheea,b,e,*
aDepartment of Marine Science, College of Natural Sciences, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
bResearch Institute of Basic Sciences, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
cNeo Environmental Business Co., Bucheon 14523, Republic of Korea
dDepartment of Song-Do Bio-Environmental Engineering, Incheon Jaeneung University, Incheon 22573, Republic of Korea
eYellow Sea Research Institute, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
#These authors contributed equally to this work.
*Corresponding author.
Abstract
Saxitoxin produced by dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria can be transferred to humans through intoxicated organisms such as fish, but limited research has addressed the adverse effects of this toxin on aquatic organisms. In this study, we measured the potential effects of a 90-day exposure to saxitoxin (0.1 or 1 μg•L−1) on body weight and length, antioxidant defense system, immunity, sex hormones, and genes involved in associated key metabolic pathways in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Significant impairments in body weight and length were observed in response to 1 μg•L−1 saxitoxin in both male and female zebrafish. A significant increase in the levels of malondialdehyde, together with decreased enzymatic activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase, was observed in fish of both sexes exposed to 1 μg•L−1 saxitoxin, indicating the occurrence of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. Immune parameters such as alternative complement activity, lysozyme activity, and immunoglobulin content were also significantly reduced. However, exposure of male and female zebrafish to saxitoxin for 90 days did not significantly affect reproductive parameters such as the gonadosomatic index and plasma concentrations of vitellogenin, estradiol, and 11-keto testosterone. Transcriptional responses showed similar trends to those of the biochemical parameters, as genes involved in the antioxidant defense system and immunity were downregulated, whereas the transcription of genes related to reproductive metabolism showed no significant change upon treatment with 1 μg•L−1 saxitoxin. Our findings indicate that long-term exposure to a sublethal concentration of saxitoxin can inhibit growth through induction of oxidative stress and immunosuppression, while the reproductive parameters of zebrafish are not a main target of this toxin at sublethal concentrations.
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