Environmental toxicology and chemistry, Jan 19, 2018
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals have been established to end poverty, prote... more The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals have been established to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. Delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals will require a healthy and productive environment. An understanding of the impacts of chemicals which can negatively impact environmental health is therefore essential to the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, current research on and regulation of chemicals in the environment tend to take a simplistic view and do not account for the complexity of the real world, which inhibits the way we manage chemicals. There is therefore an urgent need for a step change in the way we study and communicate the impacts and control of chemicals in the natural environment. To do this requires the major research questions to be identified so that resources are focused on questions that really matter. We present the findings of a horizon-scanning exercise to identify research priorities of the Eu...
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
No ecotoxicological information exists on phenanthrene (Phe) exposure in cephalopods, animals of ... more No ecotoxicological information exists on phenanthrene (Phe) exposure in cephalopods, animals of commercial and ecological importance. This study investigated the effect of Phe on two B-esterases, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Carboxylesterases (CbE), in Octopus maya embryos. Octopus embryos were exposed to different treatments: control (seawater), solvent control (seawater and DMSO 0.01%), 10 and 100 µg/L of Phe. AChE and CbE activities were measured at different developmental stages (blastula, organogenesis, and growth). B-esterase activities increased in control and solvent control as the embryos developed, showing no statistically significant differences between them. On the other hand, the embryos exposed to Phe had significant differences from controls, and between the high and low concentrations. Our results indicate that B-esterases are sensitive biomarkers of exposure to Phe in O. maya. Still, complementary studies are needed to unravel the toxicodynamics of Phe and the i...
There is the raw data of the evaluations of effects of temperature on males and females of Octopu... more There is the raw data of the evaluations of effects of temperature on males and females of Octopus maya acclimated for 30 d at 24 and 30°C. Data here are: 1. Routine metabolic rates measured in open respirometers during 24h, (RMR24h), without values, used to LMR data 2. The low oxygen consumption data (LMR) obtained from 20% lower quartile data distribution of the RMR 24h 3. High metabolic rate (HMR) measured in animals exposed to 35°C for 5 min in an intermittent respirometer. 4. Values of Q10 calculated with LMR, RMR 24h and HMR data 5. Data of activities of Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total glutathione (GSH), lipoperoxidation (LPO), Carbonylation (PO), total protein, acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE), and carboxylesterase (CbE) of hearts and muscle of males and females of O. maya. Abstract Since thermal stress enhances the energy demands, it is possible to hypothesize that the harmful effects of high temperatures observed in cephalopods are the result of the limited ca...
Morphological changes of Octopus mimus females were evaluated during ovarian development. Digesti... more Morphological changes of Octopus mimus females were evaluated during ovarian development. Digestive gland (DG) and ovaries wet weight were assessed to obtain gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices. Obtained from a group of females placed in tanks until spawn, embryos were incubated and sampled during development. Females (DG and ovaries), embryos (at different stages of development) and paralarvae (one and three days old) were preserved for energetic metabolites (glucose, glycogen, cholesterol, triacylglycerides, and protein concentrations), digestive enzyme activities (acidic proteases, alkaline proteases, trypsin and lipases), detoxification (acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities), and oxidative stress indicators (catalase activity, glutathione-s-transferase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, redox potential, total glutathione and lipid peroxidation).
The major nesting sites for the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) are in Campeche, Mexico:... more The major nesting sites for the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) are in Campeche, Mexico: Carmen, Isla Aguada, and Sabancuy. Although they are in a natural reserve, these nesting sites are threatened by agricultural activities and oil extraction. This study aimed to determine the presence and concentration of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in plasma and eggs and to assess the antioxidant response in plasma of nesting C. mydas from the southern Gulf of Mexico. Using censored statistics allowed us to do a realistic calculation incorporating the presence of non-detects in the analysis. A few contaminants (α+β+γ-HCH, trans-chlordane, 4,4′-DDE, 4,4′-DDT, methoxychlor, naphthalene, acenaphthylene, 2-Bromo naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, and dibenz[a,h]anthracene) were detected in plasma and their corresponding eggs, but correlations were not-significant. Spatial differences in concen...
High temperatures alter the physiological condition of Octopus maya embryos, juveniles, and adult... more High temperatures alter the physiological condition of Octopus maya embryos, juveniles, and adults, and the time of exposure could have a key role in their thermal tolerance. The present study evaluates the effects of temperature and exposure time on octopus juveniles obtained from a thermally stressed female and a control female when exposed to optimal (25 °C) and high temperatures (30 °C) for 20 and 30 days, respectively. The results showed a transgenerational temperature effect that was expressed with low survival, depressed routine resting and high metabolic rates. Moreover, a collapse of antioxidant defense enzymes and high levels of oxidative damage products were detected in juveniles from thermally stressed females. Stress was lethal for animals acclimated at 30 °C, while the performance of juveniles acclimated at optimal temperature (25 °C) was conditioned by high oxidative stress levels and a reduction of the high metabolic rate (HMR) even after 30 days of experiment. In co...
The anchialine environment is characterized by a vertical stratification of water masses with dif... more The anchialine environment is characterized by a vertical stratification of water masses with different salinities. Cave shrimps of the genus Typhlatya are widespread inhabitants of the aquifer in fresh, brackish, and marine groundwater. Here we describe physiological aspects of three of the most abundant and widespread Typhlatya species that thrive in the fresh and marine groundwater habitats of the anchialine ecosystem of the Yucatan Peninsula. The aerobic scope (AS) of Typhlatya mitchelli, Typhlatya pearsei and Typhlatya dzilamensis was estimated through induced physical activity, whilst monitoring protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation (as indicators of cellular damage), lactate accumulation (as an indicator of anaerobic metabolism) and the antioxidant system response. The critical thermal limits (CTL) of all three species as an additional measure of physiological plasticity were also determined. Our results showed that metabolic rates, AS and CTL were similar amongst the ...
Current anthropogenic global warming generates profound metabolic alterations in marine ectotherm... more Current anthropogenic global warming generates profound metabolic alterations in marine ectotherm invertebrates capable of leading a wide range of these species to extinction. The most worrying and devastating consequence may be that the effect of thermal stress overpasses the individual generations. To evaluate the transgenerational effect of thermal stress on the cephalopod Octopus maya, this study experimentally tests morphology, respiratory metabolism, antioxidant mechanisms, and oxidative stress indicators of the embryos incubated at two temperatures (24 and 30°C) produced by females acclimated at 24 and 30°C. The results demonstrate that, regardless of their incubation temperature, embryos from females acclimated at 30°C are smaller, show more accelerated development, and higher respiratory rates than those from females acclimated at 24°C. These embryos confirmed a greater oxidative stress degree, as well as an increased amount of soluble carbonylated proteins and catalase act...
The optic glands (OG) of cephalopods are a source of molecules associated with the control of rep... more The optic glands (OG) of cephalopods are a source of molecules associated with the control of reproductive traits and lifecycle events such as sexual maturation, reproductive behavior, feeding, parental care, and senescence. However, little is known about the role of the optic gland in Octopus maya adults during mating and egg laying. RNA sequencing, de novo transcriptome assembly, ubiquity and differential expression analysis were performed. First, we analyzed the expression patterns of transcripts commonly associated with OG regulatory functions to describe their possible role once the maturation of the gonad is complete. The transcriptomic profiles of the optic gland of both sexes were compared with emphasis on the signaling pathways involved in the dimorphism of reproductive traits. Results suggest that in the OG of males, the reproductive condition (mated or non-mated) did not affect the general expression profile. In contrast, more differentially expressed genes were observed in females. In mated females, the mRNA metabolic process and the response to norepinephrine were enriched, suggesting a high cellular activity in preparation for the laying of the embryos. Whereas in egg-laying females, energetic and metabolic processes were the most represented, including the oxidation-reduction process. Finally, the gene expression patterns in senescence females suggest a physiological response to starvation as well as upregulation of genes involved retrotransposon activity. In conclusion, more substantial fluctuations in gene expression were observed in the optic glands of the fertilized females compared to the males. Such differences might be associated with the regulation of the egg-laying and the onset of senescence.
Occurrence of the Indo-Pacific damselfish Neopomacentrus cyanomos under an oil-loading platform i... more Occurrence of the Indo-Pacific damselfish Neopomacentrus cyanomos under an oil-loading platform in the southwest Gulf of Mexico indicates that the large numbers of such platforms could facilitate the expansion of the geographic range of this species across the western and northern fringes of the Gulf. This study aimed to determine effects of reduced temperatures on the physiology of this tropical Indo-Pacific species, to better predict the possibility of its survival in the Northern Gulf during winter, when sea surface temperatures fall to as low as 18°C. Metabolic distress of animals collected twice under the oil-loading platform 1.5 km from the Cayo Arcas reef (20.21°N, -91.98°W) at 26°C that had been acutely exposed to cold temperature (-4°C h-1 every 24 h) or acclimated (45 days) occurred from 18°C and 20°C, respectively; respiration rates were significantly altered; energy reserves mobilized or drained and oxidative stress was observed. Temperature coefficient (Q10) among lower...
Abstract Most of our understanding on embryonic development in cephalopods comes from studies usi... more Abstract Most of our understanding on embryonic development in cephalopods comes from studies using constant temperature. Even though spawning generally occurs at relatively stable environments, eggs and embryos can be exposed over short periods of time to high temperature anomalies caused by oceanic warming. Therefore, in this study we examined the effects of increasing temperatures on growth, respiratory metabolism, and antioxidant defense mechanisms to define the thermal limits of Octopus maya embryos in a changing environment. Ramp temperatures consisted in increments of 1 °C every 5 days from 24 °C to 30 °C. The thermal limit of embryos at ramp temperatures was detected at 27 °C with metabolic rate increments between 63% and 69%, compared with the metabolic rate observed at control temperature (24 °C). Based on the calculated integrated biomarker response (IBR) was possible to detect that at the thermal limit, an increment on oxygen consumption was observed joint with reactive oxygen species (ROS). The IBR analysis indicated that above 27 °C embryos experienced changes in the oxidative system and were not able to recover. This study suggests that in a scenario of rapidly increasing temperatures after a short winter, O. maya embryos may suffer irreversible effects that are likely to negatively affect recruitment and the population dynamic. The thermal sensitivity of O. maya embryos, revealed in the present work, indicates that this species has an important potential for biomonitoring of the effects of environmental warming. Changes in the population dynamics of this species should be further studied since they can be used as a proxy for warming of the southern Gulf of Mexico ecosystems.
Oxybenzone, octyl salicylate, and octinoxate are compounds used in a variety of products as a pro... more Oxybenzone, octyl salicylate, and octinoxate are compounds used in a variety of products as a protection against exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Concerns have emerged regarding their environmental safety as previous studies have shown that they tend to bioaccumulate and act as potential xenoestrogens in aquatic organisms. To our knowledge no studies have investigated their impact on tropical reef-associated species. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the estrogenic effects of these three compounds on the abundant, reef-associated sergeant major damselfish, Abudefduf saxatilis. As no genomic information of A. saxatilis was available, the first part of the study was to isolate and to sequence the vitellogenin (VTG) and β-actin genes. In the second part, the potential estrogenicity of the three compounds in juvenile fish (<5 cm) was studied using gene expression and protein synthesis analyses to evaluate the induction of VTG. Fish were exposed to doses of 5, 25, a...
The effect of biofloc (BFT) and clear water (CW) at low (ls) and high-water salinity (hs) in wild... more The effect of biofloc (BFT) and clear water (CW) at low (ls) and high-water salinity (hs) in wild juveniles of Penaeus setiferus were evaluated. Four treatments were implemented: hsBFT, lsBFT, hsCW, and lsCW. After 45 days, final weight (FW), weight gain (WG), hepatosomatic index (HSI), and survival rate (SR) were evaluated. Antioxidant activity in muscle and hepatopancreas were measured: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S transferase (GST), lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein oxidation (PO). The FW and SR was low for lsCW (P < 0.05), whereas the WG and HSI was high in hsBFT and lsBFT (P < 0.05). The integrative biomarker response index (IBR) showed differences between muscle (M) and hepatopancreas (HP). Results showed an increase of SOD and CAT measured from HP for lsBFT treatment. For M, CAT and GST were high only in BFT (regardless of the water salinity). LPO determined from M and HP recorded the high values at hs and ls, respectively. The PO determined...
Objective: To examine cholinesterase activities in children from three towns in Yucatan, Mexico a... more Objective: To examine cholinesterase activities in children from three towns in Yucatan, Mexico and their relationship with anthropometry. Methods: Plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase a ctivities were measured in 104 children from Ticul, Merida and Progreso. Differences between gender, sampling sites and body mass index (BMI ) group were evaluated. Weight, height, BMI, hip and waist circumferences were correlated with cholinesterase activities. Results: Significant differences in the waist circumference and BChE activity were found among sites. Children from Ticul presented higher BChE activity compared to children from the other towns. Children from Progreso had a smaller hip circumference compared to children from the other two locations. There was a high prevalence of overweight and obese children (40.3%). The results indicated that obese children had higher BChE activity respect to healthy weight children. As expected, there were also significant waist and hip circumference d...
Environmental toxicology and chemistry, Jan 19, 2018
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals have been established to end poverty, prote... more The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals have been established to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. Delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals will require a healthy and productive environment. An understanding of the impacts of chemicals which can negatively impact environmental health is therefore essential to the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, current research on and regulation of chemicals in the environment tend to take a simplistic view and do not account for the complexity of the real world, which inhibits the way we manage chemicals. There is therefore an urgent need for a step change in the way we study and communicate the impacts and control of chemicals in the natural environment. To do this requires the major research questions to be identified so that resources are focused on questions that really matter. We present the findings of a horizon-scanning exercise to identify research priorities of the Eu...
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
No ecotoxicological information exists on phenanthrene (Phe) exposure in cephalopods, animals of ... more No ecotoxicological information exists on phenanthrene (Phe) exposure in cephalopods, animals of commercial and ecological importance. This study investigated the effect of Phe on two B-esterases, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Carboxylesterases (CbE), in Octopus maya embryos. Octopus embryos were exposed to different treatments: control (seawater), solvent control (seawater and DMSO 0.01%), 10 and 100 µg/L of Phe. AChE and CbE activities were measured at different developmental stages (blastula, organogenesis, and growth). B-esterase activities increased in control and solvent control as the embryos developed, showing no statistically significant differences between them. On the other hand, the embryos exposed to Phe had significant differences from controls, and between the high and low concentrations. Our results indicate that B-esterases are sensitive biomarkers of exposure to Phe in O. maya. Still, complementary studies are needed to unravel the toxicodynamics of Phe and the i...
There is the raw data of the evaluations of effects of temperature on males and females of Octopu... more There is the raw data of the evaluations of effects of temperature on males and females of Octopus maya acclimated for 30 d at 24 and 30°C. Data here are: 1. Routine metabolic rates measured in open respirometers during 24h, (RMR24h), without values, used to LMR data 2. The low oxygen consumption data (LMR) obtained from 20% lower quartile data distribution of the RMR 24h 3. High metabolic rate (HMR) measured in animals exposed to 35°C for 5 min in an intermittent respirometer. 4. Values of Q10 calculated with LMR, RMR 24h and HMR data 5. Data of activities of Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total glutathione (GSH), lipoperoxidation (LPO), Carbonylation (PO), total protein, acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE), and carboxylesterase (CbE) of hearts and muscle of males and females of O. maya. Abstract Since thermal stress enhances the energy demands, it is possible to hypothesize that the harmful effects of high temperatures observed in cephalopods are the result of the limited ca...
Morphological changes of Octopus mimus females were evaluated during ovarian development. Digesti... more Morphological changes of Octopus mimus females were evaluated during ovarian development. Digestive gland (DG) and ovaries wet weight were assessed to obtain gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices. Obtained from a group of females placed in tanks until spawn, embryos were incubated and sampled during development. Females (DG and ovaries), embryos (at different stages of development) and paralarvae (one and three days old) were preserved for energetic metabolites (glucose, glycogen, cholesterol, triacylglycerides, and protein concentrations), digestive enzyme activities (acidic proteases, alkaline proteases, trypsin and lipases), detoxification (acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities), and oxidative stress indicators (catalase activity, glutathione-s-transferase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, redox potential, total glutathione and lipid peroxidation).
The major nesting sites for the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) are in Campeche, Mexico:... more The major nesting sites for the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) are in Campeche, Mexico: Carmen, Isla Aguada, and Sabancuy. Although they are in a natural reserve, these nesting sites are threatened by agricultural activities and oil extraction. This study aimed to determine the presence and concentration of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in plasma and eggs and to assess the antioxidant response in plasma of nesting C. mydas from the southern Gulf of Mexico. Using censored statistics allowed us to do a realistic calculation incorporating the presence of non-detects in the analysis. A few contaminants (α+β+γ-HCH, trans-chlordane, 4,4′-DDE, 4,4′-DDT, methoxychlor, naphthalene, acenaphthylene, 2-Bromo naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, and dibenz[a,h]anthracene) were detected in plasma and their corresponding eggs, but correlations were not-significant. Spatial differences in concen...
High temperatures alter the physiological condition of Octopus maya embryos, juveniles, and adult... more High temperatures alter the physiological condition of Octopus maya embryos, juveniles, and adults, and the time of exposure could have a key role in their thermal tolerance. The present study evaluates the effects of temperature and exposure time on octopus juveniles obtained from a thermally stressed female and a control female when exposed to optimal (25 °C) and high temperatures (30 °C) for 20 and 30 days, respectively. The results showed a transgenerational temperature effect that was expressed with low survival, depressed routine resting and high metabolic rates. Moreover, a collapse of antioxidant defense enzymes and high levels of oxidative damage products were detected in juveniles from thermally stressed females. Stress was lethal for animals acclimated at 30 °C, while the performance of juveniles acclimated at optimal temperature (25 °C) was conditioned by high oxidative stress levels and a reduction of the high metabolic rate (HMR) even after 30 days of experiment. In co...
The anchialine environment is characterized by a vertical stratification of water masses with dif... more The anchialine environment is characterized by a vertical stratification of water masses with different salinities. Cave shrimps of the genus Typhlatya are widespread inhabitants of the aquifer in fresh, brackish, and marine groundwater. Here we describe physiological aspects of three of the most abundant and widespread Typhlatya species that thrive in the fresh and marine groundwater habitats of the anchialine ecosystem of the Yucatan Peninsula. The aerobic scope (AS) of Typhlatya mitchelli, Typhlatya pearsei and Typhlatya dzilamensis was estimated through induced physical activity, whilst monitoring protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation (as indicators of cellular damage), lactate accumulation (as an indicator of anaerobic metabolism) and the antioxidant system response. The critical thermal limits (CTL) of all three species as an additional measure of physiological plasticity were also determined. Our results showed that metabolic rates, AS and CTL were similar amongst the ...
Current anthropogenic global warming generates profound metabolic alterations in marine ectotherm... more Current anthropogenic global warming generates profound metabolic alterations in marine ectotherm invertebrates capable of leading a wide range of these species to extinction. The most worrying and devastating consequence may be that the effect of thermal stress overpasses the individual generations. To evaluate the transgenerational effect of thermal stress on the cephalopod Octopus maya, this study experimentally tests morphology, respiratory metabolism, antioxidant mechanisms, and oxidative stress indicators of the embryos incubated at two temperatures (24 and 30°C) produced by females acclimated at 24 and 30°C. The results demonstrate that, regardless of their incubation temperature, embryos from females acclimated at 30°C are smaller, show more accelerated development, and higher respiratory rates than those from females acclimated at 24°C. These embryos confirmed a greater oxidative stress degree, as well as an increased amount of soluble carbonylated proteins and catalase act...
The optic glands (OG) of cephalopods are a source of molecules associated with the control of rep... more The optic glands (OG) of cephalopods are a source of molecules associated with the control of reproductive traits and lifecycle events such as sexual maturation, reproductive behavior, feeding, parental care, and senescence. However, little is known about the role of the optic gland in Octopus maya adults during mating and egg laying. RNA sequencing, de novo transcriptome assembly, ubiquity and differential expression analysis were performed. First, we analyzed the expression patterns of transcripts commonly associated with OG regulatory functions to describe their possible role once the maturation of the gonad is complete. The transcriptomic profiles of the optic gland of both sexes were compared with emphasis on the signaling pathways involved in the dimorphism of reproductive traits. Results suggest that in the OG of males, the reproductive condition (mated or non-mated) did not affect the general expression profile. In contrast, more differentially expressed genes were observed in females. In mated females, the mRNA metabolic process and the response to norepinephrine were enriched, suggesting a high cellular activity in preparation for the laying of the embryos. Whereas in egg-laying females, energetic and metabolic processes were the most represented, including the oxidation-reduction process. Finally, the gene expression patterns in senescence females suggest a physiological response to starvation as well as upregulation of genes involved retrotransposon activity. In conclusion, more substantial fluctuations in gene expression were observed in the optic glands of the fertilized females compared to the males. Such differences might be associated with the regulation of the egg-laying and the onset of senescence.
Occurrence of the Indo-Pacific damselfish Neopomacentrus cyanomos under an oil-loading platform i... more Occurrence of the Indo-Pacific damselfish Neopomacentrus cyanomos under an oil-loading platform in the southwest Gulf of Mexico indicates that the large numbers of such platforms could facilitate the expansion of the geographic range of this species across the western and northern fringes of the Gulf. This study aimed to determine effects of reduced temperatures on the physiology of this tropical Indo-Pacific species, to better predict the possibility of its survival in the Northern Gulf during winter, when sea surface temperatures fall to as low as 18°C. Metabolic distress of animals collected twice under the oil-loading platform 1.5 km from the Cayo Arcas reef (20.21°N, -91.98°W) at 26°C that had been acutely exposed to cold temperature (-4°C h-1 every 24 h) or acclimated (45 days) occurred from 18°C and 20°C, respectively; respiration rates were significantly altered; energy reserves mobilized or drained and oxidative stress was observed. Temperature coefficient (Q10) among lower...
Abstract Most of our understanding on embryonic development in cephalopods comes from studies usi... more Abstract Most of our understanding on embryonic development in cephalopods comes from studies using constant temperature. Even though spawning generally occurs at relatively stable environments, eggs and embryos can be exposed over short periods of time to high temperature anomalies caused by oceanic warming. Therefore, in this study we examined the effects of increasing temperatures on growth, respiratory metabolism, and antioxidant defense mechanisms to define the thermal limits of Octopus maya embryos in a changing environment. Ramp temperatures consisted in increments of 1 °C every 5 days from 24 °C to 30 °C. The thermal limit of embryos at ramp temperatures was detected at 27 °C with metabolic rate increments between 63% and 69%, compared with the metabolic rate observed at control temperature (24 °C). Based on the calculated integrated biomarker response (IBR) was possible to detect that at the thermal limit, an increment on oxygen consumption was observed joint with reactive oxygen species (ROS). The IBR analysis indicated that above 27 °C embryos experienced changes in the oxidative system and were not able to recover. This study suggests that in a scenario of rapidly increasing temperatures after a short winter, O. maya embryos may suffer irreversible effects that are likely to negatively affect recruitment and the population dynamic. The thermal sensitivity of O. maya embryos, revealed in the present work, indicates that this species has an important potential for biomonitoring of the effects of environmental warming. Changes in the population dynamics of this species should be further studied since they can be used as a proxy for warming of the southern Gulf of Mexico ecosystems.
Oxybenzone, octyl salicylate, and octinoxate are compounds used in a variety of products as a pro... more Oxybenzone, octyl salicylate, and octinoxate are compounds used in a variety of products as a protection against exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Concerns have emerged regarding their environmental safety as previous studies have shown that they tend to bioaccumulate and act as potential xenoestrogens in aquatic organisms. To our knowledge no studies have investigated their impact on tropical reef-associated species. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the estrogenic effects of these three compounds on the abundant, reef-associated sergeant major damselfish, Abudefduf saxatilis. As no genomic information of A. saxatilis was available, the first part of the study was to isolate and to sequence the vitellogenin (VTG) and β-actin genes. In the second part, the potential estrogenicity of the three compounds in juvenile fish (<5 cm) was studied using gene expression and protein synthesis analyses to evaluate the induction of VTG. Fish were exposed to doses of 5, 25, a...
The effect of biofloc (BFT) and clear water (CW) at low (ls) and high-water salinity (hs) in wild... more The effect of biofloc (BFT) and clear water (CW) at low (ls) and high-water salinity (hs) in wild juveniles of Penaeus setiferus were evaluated. Four treatments were implemented: hsBFT, lsBFT, hsCW, and lsCW. After 45 days, final weight (FW), weight gain (WG), hepatosomatic index (HSI), and survival rate (SR) were evaluated. Antioxidant activity in muscle and hepatopancreas were measured: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S transferase (GST), lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein oxidation (PO). The FW and SR was low for lsCW (P < 0.05), whereas the WG and HSI was high in hsBFT and lsBFT (P < 0.05). The integrative biomarker response index (IBR) showed differences between muscle (M) and hepatopancreas (HP). Results showed an increase of SOD and CAT measured from HP for lsBFT treatment. For M, CAT and GST were high only in BFT (regardless of the water salinity). LPO determined from M and HP recorded the high values at hs and ls, respectively. The PO determined...
Objective: To examine cholinesterase activities in children from three towns in Yucatan, Mexico a... more Objective: To examine cholinesterase activities in children from three towns in Yucatan, Mexico and their relationship with anthropometry. Methods: Plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase a ctivities were measured in 104 children from Ticul, Merida and Progreso. Differences between gender, sampling sites and body mass index (BMI ) group were evaluated. Weight, height, BMI, hip and waist circumferences were correlated with cholinesterase activities. Results: Significant differences in the waist circumference and BChE activity were found among sites. Children from Ticul presented higher BChE activity compared to children from the other towns. Children from Progreso had a smaller hip circumference compared to children from the other two locations. There was a high prevalence of overweight and obese children (40.3%). The results indicated that obese children had higher BChE activity respect to healthy weight children. As expected, there were also significant waist and hip circumference d...
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Papers by Gabriela Rodríguez-fuentes