Aquatic Toxicology最新文献

{"title":"DBDPE induces more persistent disturbances than BDE-209 in Crassostrea gigas: Gut microbiome-modulated physiological responses","authors":"Lei Liu ,&nbsp;Tao Sun ,&nbsp;Chenglong Ji ,&nbsp;Fei Li ,&nbsp;Huifeng Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107655","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107655","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and its alternative, decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), are brominated flame retardants (BFRs) globally distributed in marine environments, posing risks to marine organisms. The gut microbiome not only degrades BFRs but also undergoes BFR-induced compositional and host-microbe co-metabolic changes. In this study, Pacific oysters (<em>Crassostrea gigas</em>) were exposed to 1 and 100 μg <span>l</span>^-1 of BDE-209/DBDPE for 28 days, followed by a 14-day depuration period. The higher bioaccumulation potential of DBDPE compared to BDE-209 might be attributed to its greater hydrophobicity, along with gut damage caused by pathogen proliferation. Alterations in the gut microbiome and metabolome induced by both BFR-exposure were associated with immunity and energy supply. Compared to BDE-209, DBDPE exposure induced more severe oxidative stress. Additionally, metabolomic analysis suggested that DBDPE has the potential to cause cell membrane damage. Notably, adverse effects, such as pathogen proliferation, persisted in DBDPE-exposed groups during depuration, which challenges its safer-alternative status. During depuration, functional remodeling in BFR-exposed oysters occurred through alterations in metabolism and genetic information processing in the gut microbiome, as well as alterations in purine metabolism, ABC transporters, and glycerophospholipid metabolism within the host (the latter being exclusive to the DBDPE-exposed groups). Despite its higher initial bioaccumulation, the higher elimination efficiency of DBDPE was facilitated by the activation of host repair program characterized by Verrucomicrobiota-mediated gut barrier restoration and glycerophospholipid metabolism-supported membrane remodeling. Correlation network analysis indicated that the adverse effects of high-concentration BFRs might be mediated by the gut microbiome, specifically through indole derivatives that may have upregulated the invertebrate form of <em>AhR</em>. Additionally, in the high-dose DBDPE-exposed group, a correlation between IAA and <em>CAT</em> suggested a potential link between microbial metabolism and the host’s antioxidant system. This study provides comprehensive insights into gut microbiome and metabolome responses to BDE-209 and DBDPE, elucidating recovery mechanisms and the mediating role of gut microbiome in BFR-induced adverse effects in oysters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 107655"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145567467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in haematology, metabolic rate, and cellular structure of spleen and head kidney of brown trout, Salmo trutta, after exposure to polystyrene microplastic particles","authors":"Franz Lahnsteiner ,&nbsp;Buumba Mudenda Hampuwo ,&nbsp;Elias Lahnsteiner ,&nbsp;Anna Dünser","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107653","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107653","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Salmo trutta</em> (weight 31 ± 8 g, total length: 14 ± 2 cm) were fed a feed containing a mixture of 1, 5, and 10 µm spherical polystyrene particles (5 × 10⁶ particles/g feed) for 30 days. Thirty days after completion of polystyrene administration, polystyrene concentrations in blood, spleen and head kidney were 9.2 - 51.6 µg/g tissue and 1.2 × 10⁶ to 8.7 × 10⁶ particles/g tissue with the highest concentrations in the spleen and the lowest in the kidney. Particles of 1 µm represented the largest proportion (80 %) in tissue, while 5 µm particles were much less frequent (20 %), and 10 µm particles were not detected at all. Effect of polystyrene on hematological parameters, on routine metabolic rate as well as on the cellular composition of the spleen and head kidney were investigated. Over the course of the experiment, mortality was &lt; 5 % and was similar between the control group and polystyrene exposed fish. Due to polystyrene exposure the concentration of erythrocytes and of hemoglobin were significantly reduced, those of erythroblasts was increased. Also erythrocyte size was increased. These changes were an indication for macrocytic anemia. Polystyrene exposed <em>S. trutta</em> had also significant higher metabolic rate. Taken together the combination of an elevated metabolic rate and macrocytic anaemia can pose a substantial risk to fish fitness. Also the concentrations of granulocytes and of immunoglobulin were significantly reduced in polystyrene exposed fish, an indication for a compromised immune system. In serum of polystyrene-exposed fish, activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, as well as protein concentration were significantly elevated, indicating hepatic inflammation or injury. In the spleen of polystyrene-exposed fish, erythrocytes were reduced, which likely reflects microplastic-induced anaemia. Monoblasts, monocytes, and macrophages were increased suggesting that polystyrene stimulates phagocytotic processes. In the head kidney of polystyrene-exposed fish only minor effects were observed. A 35-fold lower polystyrene concentration (0.5 × 10⁶ particles/g feed) induced similar effects in blood cell count and haemoglobin concentrations, while at 350-fold lower concentrations concentration (0.05 × 10⁶ particles/g feed) no effects were detectable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 107653"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145559960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nomilin mitigates OBS-induced developmental cardiotoxicity via the Nrf2 pathway","authors":"Xing Liu ,&nbsp;Yi Fan ,&nbsp;Ruobing Chen ,&nbsp;Yuting Peng,&nbsp;Xinyi Wu,&nbsp;Mingzhu Xia,&nbsp;Yichun Zhao,&nbsp;Junjie Han,&nbsp;Man Qu","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107644","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107644","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzenesulfonate (OBS) is widely used in industry as a replacement for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and has attracted considerable attention due to its environmental persistence and toxicity. However, limited information is available regarding its effects and underlying mechanisms in aquatic organisms, particularly its cardiotoxic potential. In the current study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were selected to elucidate the developmental and cardiac toxicity of OBS, as well as the potential protective role of the citrus limonoid nomilin (NOM). Embryos exposed to 0.1 and 1 mg/L OBS for 96 h exhibited marked developmental and cardiac abnormalities, including reduced body length, abnormal hatching and survival rates, pericardial edema, and decreased heart rate. OBS exposure also dysregulated the expression of key cardiac development genes (vmhc, gata4, nkx2.5, and sox9b), and significantly decreased the transcript levels of oxidative stress (OS)-related genes (keap1, nrf2, and ho-1), indicating OS induction. Activation of Nrf2 signaling by NOM treatment significantly attenuated OBS-induced cardiotoxic effects. These findings demonstrate that prenatal OBS exposure can cause cardiac oxidative injury and developmental defects via the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 107644"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145559961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydra as a dual-utility model for cytotoxicity and genotoxicity: Bridging environmental toxicology and therapeutic applications","authors":"Jagadisha Tavarekere Venkataravanappa ,&nbsp;Saraswathi Saraswathi ,&nbsp;Nayana Mitta Lakshminarayana Gupta ,&nbsp;Shreya Srivastava ,&nbsp;Yuvaraj Shapur Gopalkrishnashetty ,&nbsp;Parvathi Soman ,&nbsp;Shambhavi Kumari ,&nbsp;Konakanchi Suresh ,&nbsp;Venkateswarlu Raavi ,&nbsp;Manju Hosuru Chikkalingaiah ,&nbsp;Akila Prashant","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107652","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107652","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydra, a simple freshwater cnidarian, is gaining recognition as a valuable alternative model for toxicological research due to its ease of cultivation, exceptional regenerative capacity, and well-characterized cell lineages. While the existing studies focused on either Hydra's role in environmental toxicology or its biomedical applications, no integrated review currently bridges these two domains to position Hydra as a dual-purpose model. This review aims to consolidate current knowledge on cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of environmental pollutants, nanoparticles, heavy metals, and toxins in Hydra, while also exploring their relevance in biomedical research, particularly in cancer therapeutics. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine the effects of substances such as copper, zinc oxide nanoparticles, and pharmaceuticals on <em>Hydra vulgaris</em> and related species, using morphological assessments, inhibition of regeneration, the comet assay, the micronucleus assay, and gene expression analysis. Findings revealed that zinc oxide nanoparticles induced size-dependent toxicity, with smaller particles causing more severe morphological disruption and inhibition of regeneration. In contrast, the exposure to copper resulted in oxidative stress, the generation of reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, and apoptosis. Additionally, the Hydra-derived toxin HALT-1 demonstrated strong cytolytic activity against cancer cells, underscoring its therapeutic potential. Overall, Hydra proves to be an effective, ethical, and tractable model for evaluating the cytotoxic and genotoxic impacts of environmental agents, supporting its expanding role in environmental toxicology and drug discovery, including the development of cancer immunotoxins.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 107652"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145559963","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An evaluation of transcriptomic points of departure and gene expression profiles for larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) exposed to 22 chemicals with known modes of action","authors":"Camille G. Baettig ,&nbsp;Jenna E. Cavallin ,&nbsp;Kendra Bush ,&nbsp;Alex Kasparek ,&nbsp;Peter Schumann ,&nbsp;Kevin Flynn ,&nbsp;Daniel L. Villeneuve","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107650","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107650","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Generation of hazard information for chemicals already in production can be costly and time consuming. High-throughput techniques offer a method to define the hazard potential posed by chemicals and facilitate risk assessment activities in a rapid manner. Transcriptomic points of departure (tPODs), derived from the concentration at which global gene expression significantly differs from controls, are expected to precede concentrations that cause apical toxicity, suggesting tPODs could serve as an alternative point of departure for use in screening level hazard assessment. The present study extends previous work with a larval fathead minnow high-throughput transcriptomics assay but employs a targeted transcriptome rather than whole transcriptome approach to generate tPODs for 22 chemicals (pesticides and pharmaceuticals), expanding the diversity of chemical modes of action evaluated. One-day-post-hatch fathead minnows were exposed to eight concentrations of two piscicides, three herbicides, four insecticides, seven fungicides, two statins, and four PPAR agonists for 24 h. Following exposures, RNA from whole body homogenates were sequenced using TempO-Seq. Concentration-response modeling, using measured concentrations where feasible, was applied to all sequencing results to estimate benchmark concentrations and derive tPODs. To investigate the relationships of chemicals within the same mode of action (MoA), differentially expressed genes were visualized using Euler diagrams, sscMap, and exploratory principal component analysis using the sequencing counts for each chemical from the first concentration above the derived tPOD value was used. The targeted transcriptome approach produced results similar to what is expected from a whole transcriptome approach which suggests that if appropriate genes are selected, a targeted approach is sufficient to derive protective tPODs. In most cases, the derived tPODs were lower than concentrations associated with apical endpoints from fish data collected from the ECOTOX Knowledgebase. However, this was not the case when tPODS were compared to apical effects in other taxa (crustaceans, insects, algae). Our results showed that the individual genes impacted by chemical exposure rarely clustered within the same MoA. Overall, the results of this study provide additional data that can be used to examine the applicability of high-throughput assays for possible use in ecological hazard screening.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 107650"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145553890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The combined pollution of imidacloprid and glufosinate-ammonium aggravates toxicity on Hydrilla verticillata and epiphytic microbial community","authors":"Xiaodan Zhang ,&nbsp;Songhe Zhang ,&nbsp;Hongyu Guo ,&nbsp;Wenjie Yuan ,&nbsp;Xin Lv ,&nbsp;Tilang Zhang ,&nbsp;Shuaijie Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107648","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107648","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The combined effects of imidacloprid (ICD) and glufosinate-ammonium (GLAM) on submerged plants and epiphytic microbial community remains unclear, despite the frequent co-occurrence of these pesticides in aquatic environments. In this study, a 24-day experiment was conducted to examine changes in water quality, plant physiology, and epiphytic microbial communities in <em>Hydrilla verticillate</em>-dominated wetlands under ICD alone or together with GLAM. Results showed that GLAM+ICD induced greater oxidative stress and a stronger antioxidant response in <em>H. verticillata</em> compared ICD alone, demonstrating that the mixtures exacerbated ecotoxicological effects on plant. Compared to ICD, many micro-biomarkers were obtained in ICD+GLAM, including Bacteroidota, Comamonadaceae, Proteobacteria and <em>Cocconeis</em>. Redundancy analysis indicated that the ICD concentration was correlated positively to <em>Stigeoclonium, Closterium</em> and <em>Cocconeis</em>, but negatively related with <em>Oedogonium</em> and <em>Chloromonas</em>, GLAM is opposite to ICD. More complex interkingdom interactions among bacteria and eukaryotes were observed in high concentration MIX treatment group compared to others. Co-occurrence networks analysis further demonstrated that GLAM and ICD changed microbial interactions within epiphytic biofilm, and impaired the stability and function of the microbial communities<strong>.</strong> These results underscore that the combined presence of ICD and GLAM poses a significant ecological risk to <em>Hydrilla verticillate-</em>biofilm system in agricultural regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 107648"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145536193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Florfenicol impairs photosynthesis and triggers oxidative stress in Phaeodactylum tricornutum: Physiological and transcriptomic evidence","authors":"Huan Yang ,&nbsp;Dong-Sheng Zhao ,&nbsp;Yu-Ting Chen ,&nbsp;Nan Li ,&nbsp;Xiufeng Yan ,&nbsp;Hui-Xi Zou","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107651","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107651","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Florfenicol (FFC) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is used in aquaculture to effectively control bacterial infections in animals by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. However, its widespread application in aquaculture has increased environmental residues, posing potential toxic effects on non-target organisms in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we evaluated the toxic effects of FFC on the marine diatom <em>Phaeodactylum tricornutum</em> and the associated underlying mechanisms. The results showed that FFC significantly inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, reduced photosynthetic pigment content, and impaired photosynthetic performance, as evidenced by decreased chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. At the same time, FFC exposure induced oxidative stress, characterized by suppressed antioxidant enzyme activities, decreased soluble sugar and protein contents, and elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that short-term exposure (24 h) primarily disrupted nitrogen metabolism-related gene expression, while prolonged exposure (96 h) significantly suppressed photosynthetic pathways. qPCR analysis further validated the downregulation of key genes involved in porphyrin metabolism and ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes. Collectively, FFC inhibited <em>P. tricornutum</em> growth by disrupting the photosynthetic electron transport chain, inducing oxidative damage, and interfering with critical biological processes, including nitrogen metabolism and protein synthesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 107651"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145536404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hepatic cyp24a1 serves as a biomarker for diagnosing polystyrene microplastic exposure in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)","authors":"Feilong Wang ,&nbsp;Haiyan Xu ,&nbsp;Xiaomeng Guo ,&nbsp;Xiaolong Fan ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Li ,&nbsp;Tiao Gao ,&nbsp;Xin Xie ,&nbsp;Na Guo ,&nbsp;Fan Bai ,&nbsp;Yixin Chen ,&nbsp;Changle Zhao ,&nbsp;Deshou Wang ,&nbsp;Lina Sun ,&nbsp;Fengrui Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107649","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107649","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs), particularly polystyrene (PS), pose a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems globally. Sensitive biomarkers for diagnosing PS exposure are critical for environmental monitoring, yet evolutionarily conserved diagnostic markers in fish remain poorly characterized. This study identified cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily members as potential biomarkers for PS exposure in Nile tilapia (<em>Oreochromis niloticus</em>), a globally farmed species and established toxicological model. We comprehensively characterized 88 CYP genes using whole-genome and multi-tissue transcriptomic analyses. Hepatic transcriptional responses to 100 nm PS exposure (100 μg/L) were profiled via RNA sequencing across acute (7 days), adaptive (14 days), and sub-chronic (21 days) exposure phases. Candidate biomarkers were validated by qPCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence, with cross-species conservation assessed across fourteen teleosts. Histology revealed PS-induced hepatocyte nuclear pyknosis. Transcriptomic analysis identified dysregulation of CYP genes, and KEGG enrichment highlighted significant alteration in the cytochrome P450 pathway. Genomic analysis clustered the 88 CYP genes into 17 subfamilies, all harboring conserved P450 domains. Multi-tissue expression profiling (liver, testis, ovary, brain, heart, head kidney, kidney, skeletal muscle) indicated predominant hepatic expression for most CYP genes, aligning with the liver’s metabolic role. Notably, <em>Cyp24a1</em> exhibited sustained upregulation across all exposure phases, validated at the protein level. Immunofluorescence localized Cyp24a1 expression specifically to hepatic adipocytes. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed <em>cyp24a1</em> conservation within teleosts. We propose hepatic <em>cyp24a1</em> as a potential biomarker for diagnosing PS exposure in fish, with its early and persistent induction suggesting its potential utility for environmental monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 107649"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145536218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Image-based morphological characterization of the erythrocytic shape of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) for its potential use as an environmental biomarker","authors":"Claudia Lorena Rodríguez-Salazar ,&nbsp;Mauricio Comas-García ,&nbsp;Javier Flavio Vigueras-Gómez ,&nbsp;Claudia G. Castillo ,&nbsp;Adriana Monsiváis-Urenda ,&nbsp;Tania Zenteno-Savín ,&nbsp;Vanessa Labrada-Martagón","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107645","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107645","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental pollutants increase genotoxic damage in green sea turtles (<em>Chelonia mydas</em>). Erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (ENA) have been identified using the micronucleus (MN) test, a biomarker of DNA damage. The MN test is time-consuming, and counting depends on the observer, who requires training to avoid false positives. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of image-based morphometric measurements of erythrocyte nuclear shape to assess differences among green turtles from the Mexican Caribbean inhabiting four feeding sites with varying levels of anthropogenic pressure. An semi-automated measurement of 350 nuclei per animal (<em>n</em> = 60) per study site (<em>n</em> = 15) was performed, optimizing the traditional, time-consuming process of 1000–2000 cell counts. Eight metrics of the nuclei morphology were obtained and correlated with the frequency of ENA. A non-linear regression analysis was performed at each study site to infer the focus distance (FD) term from the aspect ratio (AR) and to evaluate deviations from the ellipse in cases with nuclear abnormalities. The erythrocyte nuclei’s minor axis, AR, FD, circularity, and roundness were correlated with the number of ENA. The green turtles captured in the most highly anthropized sites (<em>i.e.,</em> Akumal and Xcalak) showed the highest frequency of ENA, the smallest area, and the nuclear form most deviated from the elliptical nuclear erythrocytic shape expected. The proposed methodology enabled differentiation of sea turtles’ habitat conditions. Results from this study agree with previous reports of the highest concentrations of organic persistent pollutants, genotoxic damage, and alterations in oxidative stress in green turtles inhabiting urbanized areas of the Mexican Caribbean.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 107645"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145525053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metabolic toxicity of PAHs in Ruditapes philippinarum: Metabolic pathways and hepatotoxicity","authors":"Qiuhong Xu,&nbsp;Qiaoqiao Wang,&nbsp;Ruyue Ma,&nbsp;Rongjun Cai,&nbsp;Songhui Xie,&nbsp;Jingjing Miao,&nbsp;Luqing Pan","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107643","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107643","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants that exhibit high bioaccumulation and toxicity, posing a significant threat to marine ecosystems. This study integrated transcriptomics, computational modeling, and experimental validation to elucidate the detoxification metabolism and hepatotoxicity of a PAHs mixture (phenanthrene: chrysene: benzo[a]pyrene = 1:1:1) in the Manila clam (<em>Ruditapes philippinarum</em>). PAHs exposure activated detoxification genes via aryl hydrocarbon receptor and HR96-like pathways, with additional modulation through neurotransmitter-mediated NF-κB and tyrosine kinase signaling. Phase I (e.g., CYP1A1, CYP3A4) and Phase II enzymes were upregulated, yet persistent reactive oxygen species accumulation caused macromolecular damage. Females exhibited lower detoxification but greater oxidative stress than males. Chronic oxidative injury induced liver impairment, probably accompanied by inflammation and fibrosis. These findings reveal sex-dependent toxicological responses and provide mechanistic insights for ecological risk assessment and biomarker development in marine pollution monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 107643"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145515556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}