Serotonin-Modulating Protein Content as a Biomarker of Environmental Pollution

Abstract

This work concerns the ELISA-test determination of the serotonin-modulating anticonsolidation protein (SMAP) content under industrial and oil pollution. Exposure of goldfish Carassius auratus in fresh water containing oil at concentrations of 100 and 500 ppm for 5 days leads to significant increase of the content of SMAP in the livers. These studies are conducted in parallel with micronucleus analysis of erythrocytes. It is shown that although SMAP content changes at this test oil concentration, changes do not occur in micronucleus amounts. While studying the SMAP content in the livers of wild-living gobies Neogobius fluviatilis taken from a polluted zone of the Caspian Sea, decrease of SMAP content and increase of micronuclei amount are noticed. So, short-term exposure of fish to oil pollution leads to increase of the SMAP content, whereas long-term exposure results in decrease of its content. The possibility of application of the SMAP as a biomarker of environmental pollution is discussed.