Biomarkers in European perch (Perca fluviatilis) liver from a metal-contaminated dam lake

Abstract

The present study was carried out in three seasons -spring, summer and autumn in Topolnitsa Dam Lake (Bulgaria) which has been subjected to continuous contamination with trace metals due to copper extraction in the area. We investigated the trace metal levels in surface water and liver samples of European perch (Perca fluviatilis L.). We also linked the metal levels we determined with the various histological and biochemical changes which we observed. Lesions in the liver parenchyma were found to be degenerative and necrotic, as well as, they were presented as hyperemia which consequently leads to disturbances in the hepatic blood circulation. Activities of the hepatic enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) were found to be significantly elevated, particularly in summer. Therefore, based on our results we could recommend that the investigated tissue and cell alterations may be successfully applied as reliable biomarkers for monitoring polluted with a mixture of trace metals freshwater ecosystems.

Condition and Sperm Characteristics of Perch Perca fluviatilis inhabiting Boreal Lakes Receiving Metal Mining Effluents

“…Liver Fe concentration in the MI lakes varied from 323 to 2326 mg kg −1 and from 5 to 77 mg kg −1 in muscle tissue. In other metal polluted lakes, the range of Fe concentrations in liver and muscle of different fish species has been reported to be 50–4020 mg kg −1 and 4–100 mg kg −1 , respectively (Honda et al 1983 ; Szarek-Gwiazda et al 2006; Rajkowska and Protasowicki 2013 ; El-Moselhy et al 2014 ; Mohamed et al 2016 ), whereas the Zn concentrations in liver and muscle have been 60–320 mg kg −1 and 1–50 mg kg −1 , respectively (Honda et al 1983 ; Tkatcheva et al 2000 ; Eastwood and Couture 2002 ; Rajkowska and Protasowicki 2013 ; El-Moselhy et al 2014 ; Yancheva et al 2014 ). In our MI lakes, the Zn range was 108–213 in fish livers and 10–85 in muscles.…”

“…Metal exposure has been observed to cause changes in hepatic tissue (Tkatcheva et al 2000 ; El-Moselhy et al 2014 ; Yancheva et al 2014 ; Abalaka 2015 ; Mohamed et al 2016 ). Especially Cd (Tkatcheva et al 2000 ), Cu, and Fe exposure (Mohamed et al 2016 ) have caused liver cell damage, such as apoptosis, necrosis, fibrosis, and hepatocyte lysis.…”

Toxicity Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Wastewater to the Nile Tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>)

“…AST and ALT levels were elevated in the liver of the fish exposed to the pharmaceutical effluents. A study [40] has reported that increased ALT and AST levels suggest increased proteolysis, enhanced protein catabolism and hepatocellular damage in the organism. Another set of studies [41] observed a significant increase in the levels of AST and ALT in animals treated with lead and nickel respectively.…”

A review of mercury pathological effects on organs specific of fishes

“…Liver also plays a crucial role in metabolism regulation, synthesis of plasma proteins, energy storage, certain vitamins, trace metals, steroids, hormone production and more importantly degradation of metabolic product with antioxidant protection as well as detoxification [48,[59][60][61]. Thus, this leads to a tendency of mercury accumulation because of its roles in detoxification and waste excretion.…”

“…The loss of stored lipid substances in hepatocytes during the immature fish is exposed to the mercury is a primary response of the cells to support the increasing of metabolic needs [28,66]. The liver of wild European perch with metal exposure showed single hepatocytes and small sections of the liver parenchyma will be affected by the morphological changes due to necrotic alterations in that is related to the presence of karyopyknosis, karyorrhexis, and karyolysis [61].…”