Genotoxicity and oxidative stress in fish after a short-term exposure to silver nanoparticles

SIMONIELLO, M.F.; ALÉ, A; ALÉ, A; BACCHETTA, C.; BACCHETTA, C.; GERVASIO, S.; GERVASIO, S.; SIMONIELLO, M.F.

ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2017 vol. 76 p. 230 - 239

1470-160X

This study examined the effects of waterborne silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on juvenile fish Piaractusmesopotamicus (?pacú?), and analyzed toxicological endpoints such as metal burdens, oxidative stressand genotoxicity in a short-term assay. Fish were individually exposed to 0 (control), 2.5, 10, and 25 gAgNPs/L. After 24 h, silver accumulation was greater in the brain than the liver and gills at all silverconcentrations. Fish exposed to higher AgNPs concentrations showed major alterations in oxidative stressmarkers. An increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels was observed in the liver of fish exposed to 10 gAgNPs/L with no changes in the antioxidant enzymes activities. In the case of the 25 g AgNPs/L treatment,a hepatic activation of the enzymatic antioxidant defense occurred, and LPO levels resulted unaltered.On the other hand, the brain presented the highest LPO levels at both 10 and 25 g AgNPs/L exposures.The AgNPs toxicity was also evidenced by the DNA damage in fish erythrocytes at higher concentrations.Summarizing, a short exposure to sublethal concentrations of AgNPs is enough to generate deleteriouseffects on fish, including DNA damage.