Journal of Clinical Toxicology
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0495
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2161-0495
+44 1478 350008
Patr�?cia Pereira, Ricardo Pereira, F�?¡tima Brand�?£o, Sofia Guilherme, Maria Ana Santos and M�?¡rio Pacheco
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Clin Toxicol
Eyes have a central role in the perception of the surrounding medium and in maintaining organisms’ homeostasis. Mercury
(Hg) (including methylmercury - MeHg) is a ubiquitous contaminant of natural waters and a potent neurotoxicant that
affects visual functions but few studies concerning to wild fish are available. This study contributes to fill this knowledge gap by
the evaluation of Hg accumulation in the eye wall of wild greymullet (Liza aurata) together with the assessment of biochemical
endpoints related withthe oxidative stress status and neurotransmission. This approach was complemented bythe characterization
of environmental contamination profiles (both in water andsediment). Sampling was conducted in two sites of a Portuguese coastal
lagoon (Aveirolagoon): (i) Largo do Laranjo (LAR) located in an Hg contaminated confined area, and(ii) São Jacinto (SJ) closer to
the lagoon inlet and selected as reference site. Winter and summer conditions were considered. Eye wall was analyzed for total Hg
(tHg) and methylmercury (MeHg) levels, as well as for antioxidant responses (CAT, SOD, GPx,GR, GST), peroxidative damage and
acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Inorganic mercury levels (iHg) were estimated by the difference between tHg and MeHg levels. tHg,
iHg and MeHg in eye wall were higher at LAR than SJ in winter and summer, reflecting environmental spatial differences of water
column and surface sediments. Moreover, fish caught at LAR in winter showed a significant decrease of CAT and SOD, in line with
the occurrence of peroxidative damage. A different spatial pattern was recorded for those biological end points in summer, being
characterized by the increment of GR and GPx at LAR, eventually preventing the occurrence of lipid peroxidation. Additionally,
AChE was enhanced at LAR in summer pointing out an interference with the cholinergic system.The PCA analysis allowed discerning
a cause-effect relationship between accumulated iHg and MeHg with GPx and LPO, particularly at LAR. Current data pointed out
the vulnerability of fish eyes to environmental contamination by Hg. This neurotoxicant can be accumulated in eye wall leading to
alterations in the cellular protection against oxidative stress. Such repercussions could eventually compromise fish visual capacity.
Patrícia Pereira, after her PhD, was awarded a grant for Post-doctoral research from the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) and she established fruitful research
collaborations like those successfully achieved in 3 recent FCT projects. She is the sole aquatic toxicologist being part of the Portuguese team for polar research. She has
published 37 papers in international journals with referees, 1 book chapter and 3 conference papers. She has presented 45 communications (35% in oral format).