Abstract
It has been reported that spinal deformity was induced in developing fish by the addition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). To examine the mechanism of the disruption of fish bone metabolism, the effect of benz[a]anthracene (BaA), a kind of PAH, on plasma calcium, inorganic phosphorus, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts was investigated in this study. We also measured several plasma components to analyze the toxicity of BaA on other metabolisms. BaA (1 or 10 ng/g body weight) was intraperitoneally injected (four times) into nibbler fish during breeding, for 10 days, and it was indicated, for the first time, that injecting high doses of BaA to nibbler fish induced both hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia. Furthermore, in the scales of nibbler fish treated with high doses of BaA, both osteoclastic and osteoblastic marker messengerRNA (mRNA) expressions decreased. These results are a cause of disruption of bone metabolism and, perhaps, the induction of spinal deformities. In addition, we found that total protein, metabolic enzymes in the liver, total cholesterol, free cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels significantly decreased in BaA-injected fish. These results indicate that BaA may affect liver diseases and emphasize the importance of prevention of aquatic PAH pollution.
Highlights
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a series of organic compounds that are atmospheric environmental pollutants derived from petroleum and produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuel, wood, and other organic materials [1], as well as cigarette smoke [2]
Data are shown in Figure activities for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST), and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) were measured in the plasma of BaA-treated nibbler fish or untreated nibbler fish
We discovered the toxicity of mono-hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OHPAHs), metabolites of PAHs, in osteoclasts and osteoblasts of fish scales [17]
Summary
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a series of organic compounds that are atmospheric environmental pollutants derived from petroleum and produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuel, wood, and other organic materials [1], as well as cigarette smoke [2]. Atmospheric PAHs seem to influence bone metabolism in terrestrial animals, including humans. Fish scales have been used for reconstructing past contamination in aquatic systems [15]. This indicates that scales are more active than vertebral bone in bone metabolism. In the present study, we examined plasma calcium (Ca) and inorganic phosphorus (Pi) levels and both scale osteoclastic and osteoblastic activities after injecting a low level of benz[a]anthracene (BaA) (1 or 10 ng/g body weight) into marine teleosts, nibbler fish (Girella punctata). The present study is the first to demonstrate that BaA decreases both plasma Ca and Pi levels in marine teleosts resulting from the influence of the osteoclasts and osteoblasts of nibbler fish scales. Our data suggest that BaA induces liver diseases in addition to bone diseases
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