Protein oxidation in the fish Danio rerio (Cyprinidae) fed with single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The increase in the production of carbon nanotubes (CNT) arises potential scenarios of exposure to these nanomaterials for several organisms including aquatic species. Experiments were conducted to determine the toxicity of single-walled (SWCNT) and multi-walled (MWCNT) carbon nanotubes to the fish Danio rerio (Cyprinidae) exposed to these CNT via diet (500 mg/kg) during 28 days. Induction of oxidative stress by CNT was evaluated through protein carbonyl groups (immunohistochemistry). Higher levels of carbonyl groups were registered in several organs (liver, brain, pancreas and muscle) of fish exposed to SWCNT and MWCNT. Overall, data indicate that CNT administered through diet can in fact induce toxicological responses in aquatic organisms as fish. The measurement of irreversible protein oxidative damage through immunohistochemistry seems to be a valuable tool for nanotoxicology.