Differential Cell Metabolic Pathways in Gills and Liver of Fish (White Seabream ) Coping with Dietary Methylmercury Exposure

Overview

Journal Toxics

Date 2023 Feb 28

PMID 36851056

Authors

Giuseppe De Marco

Barbara Bille

Fatima Brandao

Mariachiara Galati

Patricia Pereira

Tiziana Cappello

Mario Pacheco

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is a dangerous and persistent trace element. Its organic and highly toxic form, methylmercury (MeHg), easily crosses biological membranes and accumulates in biota. Nevertheless, understanding the mechanisms of dietary MeHg toxicity in fish remains a challenge. A time-course experiment was conducted with juvenile white seabreams, (Linnaeus, 1758), exposed to realistic levels of MeHg in feed (8.7 μg g, dry weight), comprising exposure (E; 7 and 14 days) and post-exposure (PE; 28 days) periods. Total Hg levels increased with time in gills and liver during E and decreased significantly in PE (though levels of control fish were reached only for gills), with liver exhibiting higher levels (2.7 times) than gills. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics revealed multiple and often differential metabolic changes between fish organs. Gills exhibited protein catabolism, disturbances in cholinergic neurotransmission, and changes in osmoregulation and lipid and energy metabolism. However, dietary MeHg exposure provoked altered protein metabolism in the liver with decreased amino acids, likely for activation of defensive strategies. PE allowed for the partial recovery of both organs, even if with occurrence of oxidative stress and changes of energy metabolism. Overall, these findings support organ-specific responses according to their sensitivity to Hg exposure, pointing out that indications obtained in biomonitoring studies may depend also on the selected organ.

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