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Fish tolerance to organophosphate-induced oxidative stress is dependent on the glutathione metabolism and enhanced by N-acetylcysteine
Peña-Llopis, S.; Ferrando, M.D.; Peña, J.B. (2003). Fish tolerance to organophosphate-induced oxidative stress is dependent on the glutathione metabolism and enhanced by N-acetylcysteine. Aquat. Toxicol. 65(4): 337-360. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0166-445X(03)00148-6
In: Aquatic Toxicology. Elsevier Science: Tokyo; New York; London; Amsterdam. ISSN 0166-445X; e-ISSN 1879-1514, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Biomarkers
    Chemical compounds > Organic compounds > Organometallic compounds
    Chemical reactions > Redox reactions
    Chemicals > Organic compounds > Organophosphorus compounds > Pesticides > Organophosphorus pesticides > Ectoparasiticides > Organophosphorus ectoparasiticides > Organophosphate insecticides > Ectoparasiticides > Anthelmintics > Dichlorvos
    Enzymes > Coenzymes
    Pesticides
    Properties > Biological properties > Tolerance
    Symptoms > Necroses
    Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Peña-Llopis, S., correspondent
  • Ferrando, M.D.
  • Peña, J.B.

Abstract
    Dichlorvos (2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate, DDVP) is an organophosphorus (OP) insecticide and acaricide extensively used to treat external parasitic infections of farmed fish. In previous studies we have demonstrated the importance of the glutathione (GSH) metabolism in the resistance of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) to thiocarbamate herbicides. The present work studied the effects of the antioxidant and glutathione pro-drug N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) on the survival of a natural population of A. anguilla exposed to a lethal concentration of dichlorvos, focusing on the glutathione metabolism and the enzyme activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and caspase-3 as biomarkers of neurotoxicity and induction of apoptosis, respectively. Fish pre-treated with NAC (1 mmol kg-1, i.p.) and exposed to 1.5 mg l-1 (the 96-h LC85) of dichlorvos for 96 h in a static-renewal system achieved an increase of the GSH content, GSH/GSSG ratio, hepatic glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutamate:cysteine ligase (GCL), and γ-glutamyl transferase (γGT) activities, which ameliorated the glutathione loss and oxidation, and enzyme inactivation, caused by the OP pesticide. Although NAC-treated fish presented a higher survival and were two-fold less likely to die within the study period of 96 h, Cox proportional hazard models showed that hepatic GSH/GSSG ratio was the best explanatory variable related to survival. Hence, tolerance to a lethal concentration of dichlorvos can be explained by the individual capacity to maintain and improve the hepatic glutathione redox status. Impairment of the GSH/GSSG ratio can lead to excessive oxidative stress and inhibition of caspase-3-like activity, inducing cell death by necrosis, and, ultimately, resulting in the death of the organism. We therefore propose a reconsideration of the individual effective dose or individual tolerance concept postulated by Gaddum 50 years ago for the log-normal dose-response relationship. In addition, as NAC increased the tolerance to dichlorvos, it could be a potential antidote for OP poisoning, complementary to current treatments.

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