Oxidative stress biomarkers in the gills of the bivalve Mactra stultorum exposed to acrylamide

• Main Authors: Wafa Trabelsi, Chaima Fouzai, Imene Chetoui, Safa Bejaoui, Khaoula Telahigue, Imen Rabeh, Mhamed El Cafsi, Nejla Soudani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas 2020-06-01
• Series: Scientia Marina
• Subjects: acrylamide; exposure; mactra stultorum; gills; antioxidant status; acetylcholinesterase
• Online Access: http://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/1858
• ISSN: 0214-8358; 1886-8134

Acrylamide (ACR) is among the most deleterious pollutants in the environment and presents a serious risk to humans and ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to assess its effects when administered at different concentrations (5, 10 and 20 mg L–1) to evaluate antioxidant status in the gills of Mactra stultorum. Our results showed, after five days of treat­ment, an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), reduced glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (Vit C) and metallothionein (MDA) levels in gills of treated clams compared with controls. Moreover, an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a significant decrease in glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were also observed. Acrylamide induced neurotoxicity, as evidenced by the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, our results indicated that oxidative stress may be considered one of the mechanisms behind acrylamide toxicity in bivalves, although the subject requires more research.