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Linking cholinesterase inhibition with behavioural changes in the sea snail Gibbula umbilicalis: Effects of the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity has been widely used to assess the exposure and effects of
anticholinergic environmental contaminants in several species. The aim of this study was to investigate if
sublethal concentrations of the organophosphorous pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF), a well-known AChE inhibitor,
would also affect cholinesterases (ChE) in Gibbula umbilicalis and if this inhibition would result in an alteration of
its behaviour, in an attempt to link the effects observed at the cellular level with effects at higher levels of
ecological relevance. The biochemical properties of ChEs in this species were first characterized through the
assessment of different enzymatic forms present in the sea snail, using different substrates and selective inhibitors. The results suggest that G. umbilicalis possess ChEs with characteristics of typical AChE, which should be
the main form present. Additionally, in vitro and in vivo effects of CPF on AChE activity were investigated, along
with effects on snails' behaviour: the ability of the snails to move/turn after exposure to the contaminant
(flipping test). As expected, CPF inhibited AChE activity both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Moreover, the link
between AChE activity inhibition and adverse effects on behavioural changes was established: AChE inhibition
was positively correlated with the flipping test, indicating a mechanistic relationship between the two endpoints
determined in in vivo exposures.
This study highlights the importance of linking biochemical endpoints such as AChE activity with higher level
endpoints like behavioural alterations, increasing the ecological relevance of the effects observed.
Description
This study was funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
(FCT) through the Strategic Project UID/MAR/04292/2013, project
MARINE INVADERS – The impact and mechanisms of success of the
invasive seaweed Asparagopsis armata on coastal environments (POCI01-0145-FEDER-031144), and the grants awarded to Carla Silva
(SFRH/BD/87030/2012), Luís Alves (SFRH/BD/122082/2016) and
Sara Novais (SFRH/BPD/94500/2013). The project was also partially
funded by the Integrated Programme of SR&TD “SmartBioR” (reference
Keywords
Acetylcholinesterase activity Behaviour Cholinesterases characterization Ecotoxicology Marine snails
Citation
Silva, C. O., Novais, S. C., Alves, L. M. F., Lemos, M. F. L., Soares, A. M. V. M., & Barata, C. (2019). Linking cholinesterase inhibition with behavioural changes in the sea snail Gibbula umbilicalis: Effects of the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part - C: Toxicology and Pharmacology, 225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpc.2019.108570