Fluoxetine exposure disrupts food intake and energy storage in the cichlid fish Cichlasoma dimerus (Teleostei, Cichliformes)

DORELLE, LUCIANA S.; DA CUÑA, RODRIGO H.; SGANGA, DANIELA E.; REY VÁZQUEZ, GRACIELA; LÓPEZ GRECO, LAURA; LO NOSTRO, FABIANA L.

CHEMOSPHERE

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2020 vol. 238

0045-6535

Human pharmaceuticals are pollutants of special concern due to their widespread consumption over thelast decades, their high persistence in the environment, and the reported alterations produced on nontargetorganism. The antidepressant fluoxetine (FLX) exerts its effect by inhibiting serotonin (5-HT) reuptakeat the presynaptic membrane, thus increasing brain serotonergic activity. In vertebrates, there is aclear inverse relationship between hypothalamic 5-HT levels and food intake, therefore we hypothesizedthat FLX would inhibit food intake, and in consequence alter energy metabolism in freshwater fish. Theaim of this study was to analyze the effect of FLX on feeding behavior and energy storage of the cichlidfish Cichlasoma dimerus. Adult fish were intraperitoneally injected daily with 2 or 20 mg.g1 FLX or salinefor a 5-day period, during which the 20 mg.g1 FLX-injected fish exhibited a marked reduction in foodintake, consistent with a decrease in total body weight and total hepatocyte area observed at the end ofthe experiment. Although not statistically significant, a marked 50% decrease in glycogen and lipidcontent and an increase in protein levels in liver was observed for the 20 mg.g1 FLX dose. This wasevidenced histochemically by a weak PAS positive reaction and an intense Coomasie Blue stain. Takentogether, these results suggest that the SSRI antidepressant FLX produces an anorectic effect in adults ofC. dimerus, which could alter normal physiological function and, in consequence, have a negative impacton fish growth, reproduction, and population success.