Sublethal effects of carbendazim in Jenynsia multidentata detected by a battery of molecular, biochemical and genetic biomarkers

Abstract

The fungicide carbendazim (CBM) has been applied all around the world but its potential adverse effects other than its recognized activity as endocrine disruptor in non target organisms have been scarcely studied. The aims of this work were (1) to use a battery of biomarkers that can reflect potential negative effects such as oxidative stress, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity or altered immune response; and (2) to examine biomarkers of detoxification by analyzing the gene expression of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) and the multi-xenobiotic resistance protein P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the freshwater fish Jenynsia multidentata exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of CBM during 24 h. Fish exposed to 5 μg/L showed inhibition of GST activity and an increase of TBARs contents in gills, the organ of direct contact with waterborne contaminants. Genotoxicity – measured in peripheral blood-was evidenced by the increases of micronuclei frequency when fish were exposed to 5, 10 and 100 μg/L CBM and of nuclear abnormalities (NA) frequency at 0.05, 0.5, 5, 10 and 100 μg/L CBM. The expression inhibition of interleukin (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-α) at 10, and 5 and 10 μg/L CBM, respectively, indicated an altered immune response. The expression of CYP1A1 was down regulated in liver at 10 μg/L and of P-gp at 5 μg/L CBM, indicating a possible slow on CBM metabolization. On the other hand, in gills CYP1A1 decreased at 5 and 10 μg/L while P-gp was induced at 5 and 100 μg/L CBM. Overall, most of these significant effects were detected below 10 μg/L CBM, in a range of realistic concentrations in aquatic ecosystems worldwide.