Acetylcholinesterase activities in marine snail (Cronia contracta) as a biomarker of neurotoxic contaminants along the Goa coast, West coast of India

Abstract

The measurement of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity is used worldwide as a biomarker of environmental contamination due to neurotoxic substances. In the present study the AChE activities was measured in marine snails (Cronia contracta) collected seasonally from six sampling sites (viz. Arambol, Anjuna, Dona Paula, Vasco, Velsao and Palolem) along the Goa coast during the pre-monsoon (April, 2004), monsoon (September, 2004) and post-monsoon (November, 2004) periods. The AChE activities in C. contracta showed wide variation along the Goa coast. It was found to be quite high at the reference site, Palolem (23.97, 21.72 and 24.85) throughout the sampling period (April-November, 2004). The AChE activities in C. contracta decreased significantly at Vasco (44.6-52.4% reduction) followed by Dona Paula (24.9-36.2% reduction), Velasao (10.8-35.9% reduction), Arambol (12.6-37.3% reduction) and Anjuna (0-12.7% reduction). Such a significant variation of AChE activities in the marine snail along the Goa coast can be attributed to neurotoxic substances prevalent in those regions. The high concentration of different neurotoxic metals (lead, cadmium, copper, manganese and iron) and petroleum hydrocarbons in the tissues of the marine snails at Dona Paula, Vasco and Velsao clearly substantiate reduction of AChE activities in C. contracta. The in vitro studies on the inhibition of AChE by different metals and PHC indicated that lead, cadmium and copper are the most predominant inhibitor. Based on the AChE activities in C. contracta the sampling sites along the Goa coast can be classified into three major clusters such as highly contaminated sites (Dona Paula, Vasco and Velsao), moderately contaminated sites (Arambol, Anjuna) and least contaminated site (Palolem).

Photoactivated chlorophyllin and acetylcholinesterase/ cytochrome oxidase activity in Fasciola gigantica cercaria larvae

“…AChE is widely used as a biomarker in various toxicological studies. 35,36 Seasonal variation in AChE activity in the nervous tissue of the clam Tapes philippinarum. 35 and snail Cronia contracta were noted in different Goa cost of India.…”

“…35 and snail Cronia contracta were noted in different Goa cost of India. 36 It is reported that acetylcholinesterase and cytochrome oxidases are very important enzymes in activation of cercaria. 37 The enzyme AChE plays an important role in animals exposed to various natural/unnatural stimulants and in nerve impulse transmission in both vertebrate and invertebrates.…”

Biomarkers as tools in quality assessment of fish contaminated with trace metals

“…Para Gaitonde et al (2006) anticolinesterásicos tais como organofosforados, carbamatos e elementos tóxicos (Cd, Pb, Cu etc) se ligam ao sítio catalítico da enzima AChE, evitando inativação fisiológica da acetilcolina levando a um prolongamento anômalo da neurotransmissão. Assim sendo, o uso da AChE nos tecidos muscular e nervoso de peixes tem sido bastante utilizado para avaliar os efeitos da contaminação, pois essa enzima tem ampla disponibilidade e grande quantidade nestes tecidos (STUMM, 1987;OLIVEIRA, 2007).…”

Biomarker Approach in Marine Monitoring and Assessment: New Insights and Perspectives

“…On the other hand the interest of the use of acetylcholinesterase inhibition as an integrative measurement of the overall neurotoxic risk posed by the whole burden of bioavailable contaminants present in the environment has been received grown attention. Recently, measurements of AChE activity inhibition in fish and aquatic invertebrates as general biomarker of neurotoxicity have been successfully used in a number of field studies [20,[34][35][36].…”