Effects of chlorpyrifos on cholinesterase activity and stress markers in the tropical reef fish Acanthochromis polyacanthus

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 65; no. 4-9; pp. 384 - 393
• Main Authors: Botté, E.S., Jerry, D.R., Codi King, S., Smith-Keune, C., Negri, A.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2012
• Subjects: Acanthochromis polyacanthus; Animals; antioxidants; Australia; Biomarkers - metabolism; Chlorpyrifos; Chlorpyrifos - toxicity; Cholinesterase; Cholinesterases - metabolism; Coral Reefs; ecosystems; fish; glutathione transferase; Glutathione Transferase - metabolism; Insecticides - toxicity; juveniles; liver; Liver - metabolism; Marine; muscles; Oxidative stress; Perciformes; Pesticide; pollutants; Stress, Physiological; Tropical reef fish; ubiquinones; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; water pollution; Australia; ISEW, Australia, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef; Chlorpyrifos; Acanthochromis polyacanthus; Oxidative stress; Tropical reef fish; Pesticide; Cholinesterase
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.08.020

► One of five studies testing the toxicity of contemporary insecticide to coral reef fish. ► Chlorpyrifos at 1 and 10μg/L inhibited ChE activity by 26% and 49% after 96h. ► Fish muscle tissue possesses three types of ChE including two atypical forms. ► Hepatic coenzyme Q antioxidant form increased after 6h at 10μg/L. ► Study shows the value of using multiple markers to detect sub-lethal toxic effects.
Tropical coastal ecosystems, including the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) of Australia are increasingly threatened by pollution; yet few studies have investigated the sensitivity of GBR species to these pollutants. Here we exposed juveniles of the tropical reef fish Acanthochromis polyacanthus (spiny damselfish) to three concentrations of the insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) and measured (i) muscle cholinesterase (ChE) activity; (ii) hepatic glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity; and (iii) coenzyme Q (CoQ) redox balance, after 6h and 96h of exposure. After 96h, muscle ChE activity was significantly inhibited by 26%, 49% and 53% when fish were exposed to 1, 10 or 100μg/L CPF, respectively. Muscle ChE characterization revealed three types of ChEs, including two atypical forms. Hepatic CoQ antioxidant form significantly increased at 10μg/L after 6h of exposure, potentially demonstrating an early response to CPF-induced oxidative stress in liver. Hepatic GST was not affected by CPF exposure.