Aquatic Toxicology最新文献

{"title":"Taming the algal toxicity of black phosphorus nanosheets: Fulvic acid as both accomplice and antidote in aquatic environments","authors":"Xiaorui Chen ,&nbsp;Yujing Liang ,&nbsp;Shuqi Yi ,&nbsp;Bing Yi ,&nbsp;Chenyi Yuan ,&nbsp;Wei He","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107565","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107565","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>While black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNS) demonstrate considerable phytotoxicity toward microalgae, current risk assessments often overlook crucial environmental mediators such as natural organic matter. This study systematically examines the dynamic interactions between BPNS and fulvic acid (FA) - a widespread aquatic organic constituent - in modulating the physiological responses of <em>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</em>. Our results indicate that BPNS induces dose-dependent phytotoxicity, manifesting as ultrastructural deformation, ROS overproduction (2.35-fold increase), and PSII photoinhibition (16.9 % reduction in Fv/Fm) at 100 mg/L. Intriguingly, FA exhibits concentration-dependent biphasic effects: low-to-medium concentrations (1–10 mgC/L) intensify oxidative damage (over 50 % ROS elevation) and PSII photoinhibition, whereas high FA levels (20 mgC/L) substantially reduce toxicity through radical scavenging, surface complexation, and antioxidant activation. Multi-omics analysis reveals BPNS-induced disruptions in porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, particularly upregulation of pheophorbide a (19 % expression increase). High-concentration FA restores metabolic homeostasis by boosting amino acid metabolism (1.35-fold amino acid metabolites increase) and lipid turnover (54 % fatty acid upregulation), while also enhancing photosynthetic electron transport and antioxidant defenses, thereby stabilizing photosynthetic activity. This work elucidates the molecular interactions between engineered nanomaterials and natural organic ligands, offering valuable insights for ecological risk assessment and sustainable nanomaterial design in complex aquatic systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 107565"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neurodevelopmental and behavioural effects of arsenic in zebrafish (Danio rerio)","authors":"Sravan Kumar Putnala ,&nbsp;Mahesh Rachamalla ,&nbsp;Som Niyogi","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107566","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107566","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The current study was designed to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which arsenic causes neurobehavioural impairments in larval zebrafish following early developmental exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to arsenic [0 (control), 5, 10, 50, and 100 µg/L as arsenite] from 1–120 hpf (hours-post-fertilization) and raised in clean water until 30-dpf (days-post-fertilization) to assess long-term effects. Arsenic-induced ROS, apoptosis, and lipid peroxidation were measured at 5-dpf. In addition, gene expression analysis and immunostaining (24-hpf and 5-dpf) were performed to examine how embryonic arsenic exposure affects neurogenesis and development of neural signalling pathways, including dopaminergic, serotonergic, and cholinergic pathways. Furthermore, arsenic-induced behavioural alterations in zebrafish larvae were evaluated by assessing photomotor response (5-dpf), thigmotaxis (15-dpf), social preference (21-dpf), and novel object recognition capacity (30-dpf). Embryonic arsenic exposure resulted in a dose-dependent increase in ROS production, abundance of apoptotic cells, and lipid peroxidation. Moreover, arsenic exposure significantly reduced hypothalamic neurogenesis and the expression of diencephalic dopaminergic neurons and peripheral motor neurons. Arsenic exposure also caused dysregulation of genes associated with neurogenesis, and dopaminergic, serotonergic and cholinergic signalling, and antioxidant response. Behavioural analysis revealed arsenic exposure impaired photomotor reflexes and locomotion at 5-dpf, heightened anxiety response at 15-dpf, and compromised cognitive function at 30-dpf. Interestingly, pretreatment with an antioxidant, N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), ameliorated arsenic-induced ROS production and behavioural impairments (photomotor response and thigmotaxis). Overall, our study demonstrated that embryonic arsenic exposure causes behavioural deficits in larval zebrafish by inducing oxidative stress, leading to the disruption of neurogenesis and neural signalling pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 107566"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of solenoidal assembly for probing static magnetic field-induced physiological and behavioral disruptions in zebrafish","authors":"Anjani Dhayal ,&nbsp;Srabaita Roy ,&nbsp;Saidul Sk ,&nbsp;Garima Jindal ,&nbsp;Saran Kumar ,&nbsp;Padmshree Mudgal ,&nbsp;Rajesh Ramachandran ,&nbsp;Marshal Dhayal ,&nbsp;Shilpi Minocha","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107564","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107564","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Magnetic fields are pervasive in both natural and artificial environments, yet their biological impact across organ systems remains incompletely understood. We designed a custom solenoidal assembly to enable in-situ exposure of zebrafish to static magnetic fields and systematically examined the downstream effects on gene expression and behavior. Short-term exposure led to coordinated changes in the expression of key molecular markers associated with stress response, mitochondrial function, cellular proliferation, and neural activity across the heart, brain, and liver. These molecular alterations were accompanied by pronounced behavioral changes, including increased anxiety-like behavior, disrupted social interactions, altered locomotion, and impaired performance in cognitive assays. Collectively, our findings suggest that magnetic field exposure perturbs systemic physiological homeostasis in zebrafish, reflected through molecular and behavioral dysregulation. Besides this, because of the clinical impact of magnetic fields in medical instrumentation such as MRI, in particular in cancer patients, the understanding of their systemic impact becomes more and more relevant. This study provides a foundational platform for assessing the biological consequences of magnetic fields and raises important questions about their broader impact on organismal health and environmental adaptation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 107564"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145109296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microplastic exposure induces structural hyperplasia in the gill tissue of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) through immunosuppression, metabolic disruption, and structural damage","authors":"Fubin Zhang ,&nbsp;Xueting Chen ,&nbsp;Shuting Huang ,&nbsp;Zhendong Qin","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107563","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107563","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs), as ubiquitous pollutants in aquatic environments, constitute a significant component of water pollution, posing substantial ingestion risks to directly exposed fish. However, research on the potential toxic effects and underlying mechanisms of MPs on fish gills remains insufficient. Therefore, this study investigated the impacts of exposure to different concentrations of polystyrene MPs (100 and 400 μg/L) on the histological structure and gene expression in the gills of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). Through integrated histopathological and transcriptomic analyses, we systematically evaluated the effects of MPs exposure. Results showed that the 400 μg/L MPs group exhibited significantly higher gill structural damage compared to the 100 μg/L group, alongside more severe cellular apoptosis. The results of the transcriptome analysis reveal that microplastic exposure induces pathological changes in the gill filament epithelial cells, activates complement and coagulation cascade reactions, as well as the JAK-STAT pathway, promoting inflammatory damage and cell proliferation. Concurrently, MPs exposure activated the NF-κB pathway, triggered oxidative stress responses, and elicited gill inflammation via the Cell Adhesion Molecules (CAMs) and TNF signaling pathways. Furthermore, MPs disrupted gill redox homeostasis and activated apoptotic mechanisms, leading to structural damage and degeneration of gill tissue. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses further confirmed that MPs exposure activated multiple critical biological pathways, including cell cycle regulation, immune defense, oxidative stress, metabolism, and cellular structure. In summary, this study demonstrates that exposure to different concentrations of MPs causes structural damage, metabolic disruption, and cellular dysfunction in the gills of grass carp, indicating the high sensitivity of this direct water-contact organ to MPs pollution. This research provides important scientific foundations for understanding the ecotoxicological impacts of MPs exposure on aquaculture species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 107563"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Responses of different life stages of Physa acuta (Draparnaud, 1805) to the pesticides imidacloprid and tebuconazole: effects on growth, reproduction, and behavior","authors":"Thandy Junio da Silva Pinto ,&nbsp;Vanessa Borges da Costa ,&nbsp;Raquel Aparecida Moreira ,&nbsp;Mariana Amaral Dias ,&nbsp;Evaldo Luiz Gaeta Espindola ,&nbsp;Cassiana Carolina Montagner","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107561","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107561","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aquatic pollution caused by pesticides raises concerns about the effects on wildlife. While risk assessment protocols with invertebrates focus mainly on arthropods, the effects on gastropods are underexplored. In this way, the impact of exposure to imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide, and tebuconazole, an azole fungicide, on different life stages of the freshwater snail <em>Physa acuta</em> was investigated. Chronic tests with newly hatched (initial growth) and sexually mature adults (biomass and reproduction) were carried out, testing five environmentally relevant concentrations of imidacloprid (5 to 46 µg L⁻¹) and tebuconazole (18 to 272 µg L⁻¹). Besides, the displacement behavior was assessed in both stages. The exposure to insecticide did not alter the initial growth of the species; however, adults presented reduced reproduction marked by decreases in the number of egg clutches (20-40%) and eggs (25-50%). Besides, reductions in egg hatching reached 50%. The fungicide caused more pronounced responses, marked by declines in initial growth by 10 to 90% across all tested concentrations. To adults, the fungicide provoked reproductive losses of 45-60% regarding the number of clutches and 40-70% in egg counting. The egg hatchability was also reduced, and the effects were more pronounced when eggs were incubated in the contaminated medium, with inhibition reaching 100%. Both life stages exposed to tebuconazole presented reduced displacement capability, while only adults were affected by imidacloprid, despite its neurotoxic character. The output observed in hatchlings and adults of <em>P. acuta</em> demonstrates that relevant concentrations of both pesticides endanger freshwater gastropods with cascade effects on freshwater environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"288 ","pages":"Article 107561"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145004621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adsorption behavior and neurotoxic synergy of thallium and polystyrene microplastics in Caenorhabditis elegans","authors":"Chaoyi Du ,&nbsp;Ping Ding ,&nbsp;Hongzhi Guo ,&nbsp;Yulun Gu ,&nbsp;Xuefang Shi ,&nbsp;Yuyang Ni ,&nbsp;Shiyin Zhu ,&nbsp;Lijuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Haibo Chen ,&nbsp;Jianying Qi","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107560","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107560","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as ubiquitous environmental contaminants, while thallium (Tl), a highly toxic metalloid, is gaining attention as a novel pollutant due to its increasing release from electronic waste and mining activities. These pollutants frequently coexist in aquatic environments; however, their combined effects at environmentally relevant concentrations remain poorly understood. In this study, the adsorption behavior and joint neurotoxicity of polystyrene (PS) microplastics and Tl were systematically evaluated using <em>Caenorhabditis elegans</em> as a model organism. Adsorption kinetics followed both pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models, yielding maximum Tl adsorption capacities of 66.682 µg/g and 67.981 µg/g, respectively. Adsorption efficiency declined with increasing salinity but was enhanced by higher pH, temperature, and humic acid (HA) concentrations. Neurotoxicity assays were conducted using Tl at 0.01 and 0.1 μg/L, along with PS at corresponding Tl-saturated adsorption concentrations (147 and 1470 μg/L). Behavioral analysis revealed that PS significantly amplified Tl-induced neurotoxicity, as evidenced by reductions in head thrashes and body bends. Co-exposure led to pronounced neurodegeneration and altered fluorescence intensity in serotonergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic neurons in transgenic nematodes. Additionally, neurotransmitter levels were markedly decreased, and the expression of key neurofunctional genes (e.g., <em>mod-1, tph-1</em>, and <em>unc-46</em>) was significantly dysregulated. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that PS microplastics potentiate the neurotoxic effects of Tl by disrupting multiple neurotransmission pathways, underscoring the ecological risks associated with the co-occurrence of MPs and heavy metals in the environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"288 ","pages":"Article 107560"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145004622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Model-based refinement of metal water quality criteria: Advances in biotic ligand model, multiple linear regression, and toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic approaches","authors":"Xue Cao ,&nbsp;Qiao-Guo Tan","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107559","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107559","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Water quality criteria (WQC) for metals rely heavily on species sensitivity distribution (SSD) models to quantify the variability of biological responses and define concentrations that safeguard aquatic communities. However, traditional SSD approaches often neglect two critical dimensions: site-specific modulation of metal bioavailability and the time-dependent nature of toxic effects. In response, several model-based refinements, including Biotic Ligand Model (BLM), Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), and Toxicokinetic-Toxicodynamic (TK-TD) frameworks, have been developed to enhance the ecological relevance and predictive reliability of WQC. In this review, we highlight the conceptual foundations of each model, their integration into SSD frameworks, and their current status and limitations in supporting WQC development. For TK-TD models, in particular, we propose solutions to address key bottlenecks, including the need for standardized time-series toxicity testing and the development of hybrid modeling frameworks (e.g., kinetic BLM). Together, these advances represent a paradigm shift from static, single-endpoint risk estimates toward dynamic, site-specific, and biologically meaningful WQC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"288 ","pages":"Article 107559"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144933387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The combined effects of polypropylene microplastics and sulfonamide antibiotics on the gut-liver axis of Gymnocypris przewalskii","authors":"Ping Zhu ,&nbsp;Minxin Qin ,&nbsp;Xinyu Wang ,&nbsp;Qiang Gao ,&nbsp;Dan Liu ,&nbsp;Miaomiao Nie ,&nbsp;Junmei Jia ,&nbsp;Delin Qi ,&nbsp;Cunfang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107557","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107557","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics (ATs) accumulating in Qinghai Lake threaten aquatic health, yet their impact on <em>Gymnocypris przewalskii</em> (<em>G.przewalskii</em>) remains unclear.This multi-omics study investigated polypropylene MPs (PP-MPs) and sulfonamide antibiotics (SGD) on <em>G.przewalskii.</em> Groups included control group (C), single exposure groups (1 g/L SGD, 1 mg/L PP-MPs, 5 mg/L PP-MPs), and co-exposure groups (1 mg/L PP-MPs + 1 g/L SGD, 5 mg/L PP-MPs + 1 g/L SGD) exposed for 28 days. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, UHPLC, and MS/MS, we analyzed changes in the intestinal microbiota, metabolome, and transcriptome of <em>G. przewalskii</em>. Compared to control gruop, intestinal microbiota alpha diversity changed significantly in all treatments. The SGD group decreased notably, while co-exposure groups (SPL) showed significantly lower alpha diversity than single exposures. SPL groups exhibited higher beta diversity than controls and single exposures. In SPL, genera like <em>Legionella, Fusobacterium, Phascolarctobacterium</em>, and <em>Bacteroides</em> decreased, whereas <em>Shinella, Lactobacillus</em>, and <em>Prevotella</em> increased. Differential metabolites and genes decreased with rising concentrations across exposure groups. Most metabolites enriched in the ABC transporter pathway. Differentially expressed genes primarily enriched in carbon metabolism and cytochrome P450 pathways. Correlation analysis identified pathways like Neisseriaceae and <em>Acinetobacter</em> affecting Bilirubin in the gut, which in turn influenced liver genes <em>LOC107556838, LOC109072261</em> and <em>notum1a</em>. This demonstrated <em>G. przewalskii</em> adaptation to PP-MPs and SGD through the gut-live. The study provides a scientific basis for protecting <em>G. przewalskii</em> and assessing health risks of MPs and ATs to aquatic ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"288 ","pages":"Article 107557"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144933388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of norfluoxetine on mRNA expression levels, cellular defense mechanisms and histopathological alterations in the bivalve Mytilus trossulus (Mytilidae)","authors":"Justyna Świeżak ,&nbsp;Anna Hallmann ,&nbsp;Aleksandra Czumaj ,&nbsp;Kinga Hoszek-Mandera ,&nbsp;Maja Zamencka ,&nbsp;Katarzyna Smolarz","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107558","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107558","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Norfluoxetine (NFLU) belongs to the most commonly found antidepressants in the aquatic environments worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the multi-level biological response in the gills and digestive system of <em>Mytilus trossulus</em> exposed to 500 ng/L NFLU over six days. In mussels exposed to NFLU, catalase activity was significantly lower (3.87 ± 0.6 versus 6.86 ± 0.29 U/mg protein), while glutathione S-transferase activity significantly higher (173.01 ± 11.26 versus 152.12 ± 13.82 nmol/min/mg protein) as compared to control mussels. Aromatization efficiency, which is related to steroid metabolism, was higher in NFLU exposed mussels as compared to the control (12.88 ± 0.99 and 7.98 ± 0.92 pmol/h/mg protein, respectively). In the haemolymph of exposed mussels serotonin level decreased from 3.1 ± 1.5 ng/L (control) to 1.7 ± 0.6 ng/L. The expression of genes encoding proteins involved in the detoxification and inflammatory processes also differed. In the digestive system of exposed bivalves, CYP1L1 and CYP3AL1 genes were upregulated while PGY1 gene was downregulated. In the gills of NFLU-treated mussels the expression of CYP3AL1, CYP1L1, GSTϛ3, ATPase, MVP and 5-HTR genes were downregulated while PGY1 gene was upregulated. On the tissue level, the presence of progressive (inflammations, necrosis) and regressive (oedema, atrophy, degenerations) changes were found in gills and digestive system of exposed mussels. ATPase-driven imbalance in the osmotic regulation in the gills after exposure to NFLU may stimulate arise of gill lesions. Our results provide evidence for NFLU neuroendocrine modulating capacity as indicated by increased aromatization activity and changes in the serotonin signaling pathway.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"288 ","pages":"Article 107558"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144933389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular mechanisms of ammonia nitrogen tolerance in sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus)","authors":"Ye Tian ,&nbsp;Haoran Xiao ,&nbsp;Qiwei Zuo ,&nbsp;Xuan Liu ,&nbsp;Jingli Huang ,&nbsp;Lingshu Han ,&nbsp;Junxiao Sun ,&nbsp;Chong Zhao ,&nbsp;Jun Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107555","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107555","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ammonia nitrogen is a major pollutant in aquatic environments, affecting the growth and physiological functions of aquatic animals. This study focused on the sea cucumber <em>Apostichopus japonicus</em> as the research subject, and conducted a series of experiments to evaluate its tolerance to ammonia nitrogen. Enzyme activity in the body wall was measured to assess changes in growth and physiological functions. Additionally, transcriptomic and metabolomic sequencing analyses were performed on intestinal tissue to systematically investigate the effects of ammonia nitrogen on physiological responses, molecular mechanisms, and metabolic regulation in <em>A. japonicus</em>. The results revealed that sea cucumbers exhibited high tolerance to ammonia nitrogen. Under two stress concentrations, their survival rate remained at 100 %, although the weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) declined significantly. CAT activity increased significantly with rising ammonia nitrogen concentrations and glutathione metabolism and CYP450 pathways were significantly enriched. Upregulation of <em>MGST</em>3 and <em>CYP1A1</em> indicated that sea cucumbers mitigated oxidative stress and toxicity through these pathways. Glycolysis and the TCA cycle were suppressed, as indicated by reduced activities of HK, PK, MDH, and SDH, and by downregulation of the <em>PFKM</em> gene. Conversely, metabolic pathways involving amino acids such as alanine and aspartate were significantly enriched, suggesting that accelerated amino acid metabolism help to compensate for energy demands. Notably, apoptosis-related pathways (e.g., MAPK and mTOR signaling pathways) and the oxidative phosphorylation pathway were enriched exclusively under high ammonia nitrogen stress. The upregulation of <em>caspase-3</em> and <em>caspase-8</em> suggests that sea cucumbers eliminate the damaged cells via apoptosis. Meanwhile, high expression of COX family genes which are involved in oxidative phosphorylation, likely enhanced energy production. Under low ammonia nitrogen conditions, the NOD receptor signaling pathway was significantly enhanced, which may strengthen the immune response. This study enhances our understanding on the molecular mechanisms underpinning ammonia nitrogen tolerance in sea cucumbers and provides new insights into promoting sustainable aquaculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"288 ","pages":"Article 107555"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144916826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}