Toxic effects of domoic acid in the seabream Sparus aurata.

Isabel Nogueira,Ana Gago-Martinez,Joana Azevedo,Rosa Cervantes,Rogério Monteiro,Vítor Vasconcelos,Socorro Rivera,Alexandre Lobo-Da-Cunha,António Afonso

doi:10.3390/md8102721

Isabel Nogueira, Ana Gago-Martinez + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/md8102721

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Abstract

Neurotoxicity induced in fish by domoic acid (DA) was assessed with respect to occurrence of neurotoxic signs, lethality, and histopathology by light microscopy. Sparus aurata were exposed to a single dose of DA by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 0, 0.45, 0.9, and 9.0 mg DA kg−1 bw. Mortality (66.67 ± 16.67%) was only observed in dose of 9.0 mg kg−1 bw. Signs of neurological toxicity were detected for the doses of 0.9 and 9.0 mg DA kg−1 bw. Furthermore, the mean concentrations (±SD) of DA detected by HPLC-UV in extracts of brain after exposure to 9.0 mg DA kg−1 bw were 0.61 ± 0.01, 0.96 ± 0.00, and 0.36 ± 0.01 mg DA kg−1 tissue at 1, 2, and 4 hours. The lack of major permanent brain damage in S. aurata, and reversibility of neurotoxic signs, suggest that lower susceptibility to DA or neuronal recovery occurs in affected individuals.

Highlights

Domoic acid (DA) is synthesized by marine algae, such as the red algae Chondria armata and species of the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia [1,2]
This structural similarity allows DA and kainic acid (KA) to bind to the glutamate receptor [GluRs] family, inducing neuroexcitatory and neurotoxic effects [3,4,5]
In some individuals exposed to 0.45 mg DA kg−1 bw, some disturbances in behavior, characterized by vertical swimming, i.e., ascending and descending in the water column, were observed

Summary

Introduction

Domoic acid (DA) is synthesized by marine algae, such as the red algae Chondria armata and species of the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia [1,2]. DA is an analogue of kainic acid (KA), which shows excitotoxic activity. Both DA and KA are structurally similar to glutamate, which is the predominant neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. This structural similarity allows DA and KA to bind to the glutamate receptor [GluRs] family, inducing neuroexcitatory and neurotoxic effects [3,4,5].

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