Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Human Health Effects Sign in to save

Acute benzo[a]pyrene exposure induced oxidative stress, neurotoxicity and epigenetic change in blood clam Tegillarca granosa

Scientific Reports 2021 51 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Baoying Guo, Baoying Guo, Xiaojun Yan Pengzhi Qi, Dan Feng, Dan Feng, Dan Feng, Dan Feng, Dan Feng, Dan Feng, Zhongtian Xu, Dan Feng, Pengzhi Qi, Pengzhi Qi, Baoying Guo, Dan Feng, Dan Feng, Dan Feng, Baoying Guo, Pengzhi Qi, Xiaojun Yan Dan Feng, Dan Feng, Pengzhi Qi, Xiaojun Yan Xiaojun Yan Xiaojun Yan Dan Feng, Dan Feng, Dan Feng, Pengzhi Qi, Baoying Guo, Baoying Guo, Baoying Guo, Baoying Guo, Pengzhi Qi, Xiaojun Yan Dan Feng, Xiaojun Yan Xiaojun Yan Pengzhi Qi, Baoying Guo, Baoying Guo, Xiaojun Yan Baoying Guo, Baoying Guo, Xiaojun Yan Baoying Guo, Baoying Guo, Pengzhi Qi, Baoying Guo, Baoying Guo, Pengzhi Qi, Xiaojun Yan Xiaojun Yan

Summary

Researchers exposed blood clams to benzo[a]pyrene, a toxic chemical commonly found in marine sediments from oil and industrial pollution, and found it triggered oxidative stress, nerve damage, and widespread changes in DNA methylation (a process that controls gene activity). The study positions blood clams as useful pollution monitors and shows how PAH chemicals can damage marine animals at the genetic level.

The blood clam (Tegillarca granosa) is being developed into a model bivalve mollusc for assessing and monitoring marine pollution on the offshore seabed. However, the information on the response of blood clam to PAHs, an organic pollutant usually deposited in submarine sediment, remains limited. Herein, we employed multiple biomarkers, including histological changes, oxidative stress, neurotoxicity and global DNA methylation, to investigate the effects of 10 and 100 μg/L Bap exposure on the blood clams under laboratory conditions, as well as the potential mechanisms. Acute Bap exposure can induce significant morphological abnormalities in gills as shown through hematoxylin-eosin (H.E) staining, providing an intuitive understanding on the effects of Bap on the structural organization of the blood clams. Meanwhile, the oxidative stress was significantly elevated as manifested by the increase of antioxidants activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and glutathione-s-transferase (GST), lipid peroxidation (LPO) level and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) content. The neurotoxicity was also strengthened by Bap toxicity manifested as inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activities. In addition, the global DNA methylation level was investigated, and a significant DNA hypomethylation was observed in Bap exposed the blood clam. The correlation analysis showed that the global DNA methylation was negatively correlated with antioxidants (SOD, CAT and POD) activities, but positively correlated choline enzymes (AChE and ChAT) activities. These results collectively suggested that acute Bap exposure can cause damage in gills structures in the blood clam possibly by generating oxidative stress and neurotoxicity, and the global DNA methylation was inhibited to increase the transcriptional expression level of antioxidants genes and consequently elevate antioxidants activities against Bap toxicity. These results are hoped to shed some new light on the study of ecotoxicology effect of PAHs on marine bivalves.

Read via DOI Download PDF

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email