Temperature and size-dependency of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) oxygen requirement and tolerance

Under embargo until: 2023-10-09Lumpfish are currently produced and utilized as cleaner fish, to control sea lice infestation rates in salmon net pens, but information on environmental requirements is still limited. This study aimed to determine the zone of environmental hypoxia for two relevant fish sizes (15 and 60 g) and temperatures (5 and 12 °C), using intermittent flow respirometry (referred to as 15:5, 15:12, 60:5, 60:12), and to investigate parameters of stress in response to acute changes in dissolved oxygen (DO, % air saturation) from normoxia to 47, 63, 98 (control), 148 and 194% O2 at 10 °C. The standard and maximal metabolic rates (SMR and MMR) were measured in normoxia (n = 8), and MMR was measured at 5–6 DO levels ranging from 20−160% O2 (n = 8 per DO) to define the upper and lower boundaries of the hypoxic zone (DOlim and DOcrit). SMR, MMR and the aerobic metabolic scope (AS) increased with temperature and decreased with fish size. Similar effects of temperature and size were found on DOcrit – DOlim ranges: 20–55 (15:5), 35–147 (15:12), 21–53 (60:5) and 22–89 (60:12) % O2 air saturation. Results from acute exposure tests resulted in elevated cortisol levels at 63 and 47% O2, although not statistically significant at 47% O2. Other parameters of hypoxic or hyperoxic stress (lactate, pH, osmolality, lipid peroxidation rates, catalase activity) were not affected. Results from the present study suggest that lumpfish may experience oxygen levels in sea cages that restricts metabolism, performance and induce hypoxic stress.acceptedVersio

A new in vitro screening bioassay for the ecotoxicological evaluation of the estrogenic responses of environmental chemicals using roach (Rutilus rutilus) liver explant culture

There is growing evidence that many chemicals released in the environment are able to disturb the normal endocrinology of organisms affecting the structure and function of their reproductive system. This has prompted the scientific community to develop appropriate testing methods to identify active compounds and elucidate mechanisms of action. Of particular interest are in vitro screening methods that can document the effects of these endocrine disrupting compounds on fish. In this study, an in vitro bioassay was developed in the roach (Rutilus rutilus) for evaluating the estrogenicity or antiestrogenicity potency of environmental pollutants by measuring vitellogenin (VTG) induction in cultured liver explants. The cell viability was assessed by the measurement of nonspecific esterase activity using a fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis assay. Results showed that explants could be cultured for 72 h without any significant loss of activity. Dose-dependent responses have been measured with estrogenic model compounds such as 17-β-estradiol (E2) and 17-α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) or antiestrogenic compounds such as tamoxifen. Lowest observable effective concentrations were 1 nM for E2, 1 nM for EE2, and 100 nM for tamoxifen, showing a good sensitivity of the test system. Estrogenicity of butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, 4-nonylphenol, and bisphenol A was tested. bisphenol A (100 μM) or butylparaben induced a twofold increase in VTG production when compared with 100 nM E2, whereas this production was only 20% with 100 μM 4-nonylphenol. Overall, this study shows that the bioassay could provide valuable information on endocrine disrupting chemicals including metabolites and mixtures of compounds. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

First evidence of marine diesel effects on biomarker responses in the Icelandic scallops, Chlamys islandica

International audienceThe decrease of ice cover in polar areas is expected to lead to an increase in ship traffic. In this context, the risk associated with exposure of the aquatic environment to oil-related chemicals from spills and/or accidental fuel discharges from ships will increase in the near future, potentially causing negative impacts on sensitive Arctic species. This study investigated for the first time the biomarker responses of the Icelandic scallops (Chlamys islandica) to marine diesel exposure. Antioxidant response, neurotoxic effect, gonad maturation, and lipid content were assessed in male and female scallops, Chlamys islandica after a 7-day exposure to marine diesel. At the end of exposure, results showed an inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity in Icelandic scallops exposed to high concentration of diesel. At the end of exposure, results showed an increase in naphthalene residues in hemolymph, together with an inhibition of AChE activity in Icelandic scallops exposed to high concentration of diesel. In addition, alteration of the escape capacity was observed suggesting effects on behavior responses. Overall, this study contributes to the better knowledge of physiological effects of marine diesel in Arctic marine organisms

Impacts spatiaux et temporels du déversement de diesel dans le port de Skjervøy sur la population indigène de moules bleues: Une étude de cas subarctique

International audienc

In vitro and in vivo studies of the endocrine disrupting potency of cadmium in roach (Rutilus rutilus) liver

International audienceCadmium has been reported to exert estrogenic, antiestrogenic or both effects in vertebrate species. To elucidate the endocrine disrupting action of CdCl2, ex vivo and in vivo experiments were performed in roach (Rutilus rutilus). Roach liver explants were exposed to a range of CdCl2 concentrations alone (0.1–50 μM) or with an effective concentration (100 nM) of 17β-estradiol (E2). In addition, juvenile roach were intraperitoneally injected with CdCl2 (0.1–2.5 mg/kg) with or without 1 mg E2/kg. Subsequent analysis evaluated the effect of CdCl2 on vitellogenin (VTG) synthesis both at the mRNA and protein level, on estrogen receptors (erα and erβ1) and on androgen receptor (ar) mRNA expression. Ex vivo and in vivo experiments indicated that CdCl2 is strongly anti-estrogenic as, when co-exposed to E2, CdCl2 significantly inhibited VTG production as well as vtg and erα mRNA expressions. Moreover, CdCl2 compromised the E2-mediated induction of the ar mRNA expression in vivo

Biological effects of marine diesel oil exposure in red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) assessed through a water and foodborne exposure experiment

Shipping activities are expected to increase in the Arctic Seas. Today, the majority of vessels are using marine diesel oil (MDO) as propulsion fuel. However, there is a general lack of knowledge of how cold-water marine species respond to acute exposures to MDO. Arctic red king crabs (Paralithodes camtschaticus) were exposed to mechanically dispersed MDO in a flow-through exposure system for one week followed by three weeks of recovery. Observations of increased movements in exposed crabs were interpreted as avoidance behaviour. Further, glutathione peroxidase activity increased in high exposed crab, the catalase activity showed an insignificant increase with exposure, while no differences between groups were observed for lipid peroxidation and acetylcholinesterase activity. After three weeks of recovery in clean seawater, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations in the crabs were significantly reduced, with no specific biomarker responses in exposed groups compared to the control. The results suggest that effects from instantaneous MDO spill only will have short-term effects on the red king cra

Brain cytochrome P450 aromatase activity in roach (Rutilus rutilus) : Seasonal variations and impact of environmental contaminants

International audienceP450 aromatase catalyses the conversion of C19 androgens to C18 estrogens which is thought to be essential for the regulation of the reproductive function. In this study, brain aromatase activity (AA) was measured monthly over a reproductive cycle in wild roach (Rutilus rutilus) sampled in a reference site in Normandy. AA peaked during the breeding season, reaching 35 fmol mg-1 min-1 in both male and female fish, and was low during the rest of the year except for a significant rise in October. AA was correlated with ovary maturation (measured either as gonado-somatic index or by histological analysis of the gonads) and plasma sex-steroid levels (11-ketotestosterone in males and 17-beta-estradiol in females). Measurements of AA in polluted sites showed that activity was significantly upregulated in sites with fish showing high levels of plasma vitellogenin and large proportion of intersexuality (20-50%) thus suggesting the occurrence of estrogenic compounds and their involvement in AA modulation

Endocrine effects of the tapeworm Ligula Intestinalis in its teleost host, the roach (Rutilis rutilis)

International audienceThe effects of parasite infection by the cestode Ligula intestinalis on the reproductive function and endocrine system of wild roach Rutilus rutilus were evaluated. Gonad maturation, plasma vitellogenin, plasma steroid concentrations (i.e. progesterone, 11-keto-testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol) and brain aromatase activity were investigated in relation with parasitization. A low prevalence (8%) of ligulosed roach and a moderate impact of parasitization (mean parasitization index of 8.8%) were found in the studied population. Inhibition of gonad maturation generally resulted from infestation but 55 of the ligulosed roach nevertheless reached maturity. Main sex steroid plasma content was depleted in both genders. Male 11-keto-testosterone, female 17-beta-estradiol and progesterone plasma concentrations of both genders were, respectively, 27, 5 and 3 times lower m ligulosed fish when compared to their non-infected counterparts. Progesterone levels were negatively correlated with the parasitization index in females. Brain aromatase activity of infected roach was reduced to 50% of that of the non-infected fish. These results demonstrate significant negative effects on the reproductive function of wild roach infected by the tapeworm L. intestinalis collected from a site with low contamination