A Biomarker Approach as Responses of Bioindicator Commercial Fish Species to Microplastic Ingestion: Assessing Tissue and Biochemical Relationships
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Plastic debris is a growing environmental problem on a global scale, as plastics and microplastics (MPs) can be ingested by marine organisms, inducing toxic effects. The aim of this study was to assess MP intake and antioxidant responses in three bioindicator species: red mullet, bogue, and anchovy (Mullus surmuletus, Boops boops, and Engraulis encrasicolus, respectively) for plastic contamination in the Mediterranean Sea. MP intake was assessed in the gastrointestinal tract of the fish. Further, several enzymes from both the liver and brain were analysed. The antioxidant defences, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as the detoxifying enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST), were measured in both tissues. The acetylcholine esterase (AchE), as an indicator of neuronal damage, was measured in the brain. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was analysed as a marker of oxidative damage in the brain and liver samples. Total MP intake and MP typology differed between the three species, with M. surmuletus showing the lowest intake of MPs, while B. boops showed the highest intake of MPs. An increase in both antioxidant enzymes was evidenced in E. encrasicolus liver activity with respect to MP intake. In brain samples, an increase in CAT activity was found in M. surmuletus and B. boops as a consequence of MP ingestion. SOD activity in the brain increased in B. boops and E. encrasicolus that had ingested MPs. GST activity increased in the liver of M. surmuletus’ and in brains of B. boops that had ingested MPs. The intake of MPs is species related, as well as being inherently linked to the habitat they live in and being able to induce a light activation of species-specific detoxifying and antioxidant mechanisms.
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Capó et al. reported an increase in CAT activity in Mullus surmuletus and Boops boops, in SOD activity in Boops boops and Engraulis enchrasicolus, and in GST activity in Boops boops as a consequence of MPs uptake.
“Capó et al. [58] reported an increase in CAT activity (in Mullus surmuletus and Boops boops), in SOD activity (Boops boops and Engraulis enchrasicolus), and in GST activity (Boops Boops) as a consequence of MPs’ uptake.”
From Is Wild Marine Biota Affected by Microplastics? (2022) · cites this paper as [58]
AChE activity showed no differences related to MPs ingestion, as well as MDA levels in M. surmuletus and B. boops.
“The AChE activity showed no differences related to MPs’ ingestion, as well as MDA levels (M. surmuletus and B. boops).”
From Is Wild Marine Biota Affected by Microplastics? (2022) · cites this paper as [58]
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- Authors
- Capó, X., Morató, M., Alomar, C., Rios-Fuster, B., Valls, M., Compa, M., & Deudero, S.
- Affiliations
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO-CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma, Spain
- Corresponding author
- Capó, Xavier
- Venue
- Biology
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2022-11-08
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1634
- ISSN
- 2079-7737 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC9687843
- OpenAlex
- W4308603567
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 1.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Biology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- INTERREG Med Project: Plastic Busters MPAs: Preserving Biodiversity from Plastics in Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (4MED17_3.2_M123_027, 2018-037395-I)
- European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) (4MED17_3.2_M123_027, 2018-037395-I)
- Juan de la Cierva-Formación (4MED17_3.2_M123_027, 2018-037395-I)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Keywords
- microplastic ingestion, bioindicators, commercial fish species, Mullus surmuletus, Boops boops, Engraulis encrasicolus, antioxidant enzymes, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, acetylcholinesterase, oxidative stress, malondialdehyde, plastic pollution, Mediterranean Sea, fish biomarkers
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