Digestive enzymatic patterns as possible biomarkers of endocrine disruption in the red mullet (Mullus barbatus): A preliminary investigation. Issue 1 (15th April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caruso, Gabriella; De Pasquale, Francesca; Mita, Damiano Gustavo; Micale, Valeria
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 105:Issue 1(2016:Apr.)
• Page Start: 37
• Page End: 42
• Publication Date: 2016-04-15
• Subjects: Digestive enzymes -- Endocrine disruptors -- Red mullet -- Indicators -- Northern Sicilian coast; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.03.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: During two seasonal trawl surveys (April and October, 2012), red mullet specimens were caught from two sites of the northern Sicilian coast (Western Mediterranean), characterized by different degrees of pollution, to assess whether their digestive enzymes could be cost-effective diagnostic tools for endocrine disruption. Pepsin, chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidases A and B, amylase and lipase were measured in the digestive tract of each fish. During both samplings, significant differences in the digestive enzymatic patterns of fish collected from the two sites were found. In April, pepsin and lipase contents were significantly lower in fish from the most impacted site than in those from the reference site. In October, the enzymatic patterns showed trends different from spring, with controversial results for carboxypeptidases A and B and amylase. Pepsin and lipase patterns suggest a detrimental effect played by organic pollutants and the use of these enzymes as possible biomarkers of exposure to endocrine disruptors. Highlights: Digestive enzymes as biomarkers of exposure to endocrine disruptors Changes in the lipid metabolism in response to environmental pollutants Lipase activity as an indicator of metabolic damage in Mullus barbatus