ABSTRACT
Microplastics, considered emerging environmental contaminants resulting from plastic degradation, are discovered in diverse aquatic ecosystems and can be unintentionally ingested by fish. Therefore, it is essential to characterize their interaction with other contaminants, such as agrochemicals, in aquatic environments. This study aimed to assess histological, enzymatic, and genotoxic biomarkers in juvenile pacú (Piaractus mesopotamicus) exposed to polyethylene (PE) microplastic particles and the herbicide atrazine, individually or combined, for 15 days. Four treatments were used: a negative control (CON), PE in the fish diet (0.1% w/w, FPE), atrazine through water (100 µg L-1, ATZ), and the mixture (ATZ+FPE). Results confirmed histological alterations in gills (edema and lamellar fusion) and liver (necrotic areas and congestion) of fish exposed to ATZ and ATZ+FPE. The number of goblet cells increased in the posterior intestine of fish under ATZ+FPE compared to CON and FPE. Enzyme activities (CAT, GST, AChE, and BChE) significantly increased in ATZ+FPE compared to CON. However, no genotoxic effect was demonstrated. These findings provide insights into the complex impacts of simultaneous exposure to atrazine and microplastics, emphasizing the need for continued research to guide effective environmental management strategies against these contaminants that represent a risk to aquatic organisms.
Subject(s)
Atrazine , Microplastics , Water Pollutants, Chemical , Atrazine/toxicity , Microplastics/toxicity , Animals , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity , Gills/drug effectsABSTRACT
The heart begins to form early during vertebrate development and is the first functional organ of the embryo. This study aimed to describe and compare the heart development in three Neotropical anuran species, Physalaemus albonotatus, Elachistocleis bicolor, and Scinax nasicus. Different Gosner Stages (GS) of embryos (GS 18-20) and premetamorphic (GS 21-25), prometamorphic (GS 26-41), and metamorphic (GS 42-46) tadpoles were analyzed using stereoscopic microscopy and Scanning Electronic Microscopy. Heart development was similar in the three analyzed species; however, some heterochronic events were identified between P. albonotatus and S. nasicus compared to E. bicolor. In addition, different patterns of melanophores arrangement were observed. During the embryonic and metamorphic periods, the main morphogenetic events occur: formation of the heart tube, regionalization of the heart compartments, development of spiral valve, onset of heartbeat, looping, and final displacement of the atrium and its complete septation. Both periods are critical for the normal morphogenesis and the correct functioning of the anuran heart. These results are useful to characterize the normal anuran heart morphology and to identify possible abnormalities caused by exposure to environmental contaminants.
Subject(s)
Anura , Organogenesis , Animals , Larva , Morphogenesis , HeartABSTRACT
A detailed description of the tegument and parotoid glands of pre-metamorphic, post-metamorphic, juvenile and adult individuals of Rhinella bergi is presented to provide an exhaustive analysis of the integumentary characteristics of this species. Fragments of the tegument were fixed in Bouin solution and preserved in buffered Formol 10%. Subsequently, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to characterize the macroscopic structure of these regions. Microscopic observations were made from histological sections stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Alcian Blue (pH 2,5), PAS-H, Coomassie Blue, Oil Red, and Bielschowsky Impregnation.. There were three types of protuberance: warts, tubers, and thorns. These structures became evident from post-metamorphic stages. The ventral surface shows elevations similar to flat warts; however, tubers and spines are absent. Histologically, each structure consists of a spongy dermis of lax connective tissue and dense and compact dermis, associated with granular glands and a keratinized epidermis. The latter, in the dorsal region, forms projections called thorns. The granular glands accumulate, and their alveoli increase in size progressively. This work provides a morphological and histological description of the integument and the parotoid glands during the larval and post-metamorphic stage of the genus Rhinella, with aspects described for the first time in the genus.
Subject(s)
Anura/growth & development , Cell Differentiation/physiology , Epidermal Cells/cytology , Skin/metabolism , Animals , Dermis/ultrastructure , Epidermis/ultrastructure , Immunohistochemistry/methods , Larva/growth & development , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods , Skin/pathologyABSTRACT
RESUMEN Se cuantificaron y compararon los melanomacrófagos (MM) y la actividad de la enzima Glutatión S-Transferasa (GST) en hígados de ejemplares adultos de Leptodactylus chaquensis (Anura, Leptodactylidae) colectados en un cultivo de arroz (CA) (siete días posteriores a la aplicación de clorpirifos, CPF) y en un sitio de referencia (SR) en el departamento San Javier, provincia de Santa Fe (Argentina). El análisis histológico reveló una mayor cantidad (p = 0.028) y área ocupada por MM (p = 0.017) y se registró una inhibición en la actividad de la GST (p = 0.030) en individuos del CA respecto a los del SR. Los efectos descriptos evidencian el riesgo ecotoxicológico para los anuros en los cultivos de arroz con aplicaciones de CPF.
ABSTRACT We quantified and compared the hepatic melanomacrophage (MM) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activity (two oxidative stress biomarkers) in the liver of Leptodatylus chaquensis adults (Anura, Leptodactylidae) collected in a rice field (CA) in San Javier department, Santa Fe (Argentina), seven days after the application of chlorpyrifos and in a reference site (SR). The histological analysis revealed a significant amount (p = 0.028) and area occupied by MM (p = 0.017) in livers of CA compared to SR. Furthermore, a significant inhibition of GST activity was recorded in the CA frogs compared to the SR (p = 0.030). The histopathological and enzymatic effects provide evidences of ecotoxicological risk for anurans in rice field with CPF application.
