Aquatic Toxicology最新文献

{"title":"Occurrence and tissue distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in fishes from waterbodies with point and non-point sources in Massachusetts, USA","authors":"Heather L. Walsh ,&nbsp;Vicki S. Blazer ,&nbsp;Emma Lord ,&nbsp;Stephen T. Hurley ,&nbsp;Denis R. LeBlanc","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107499","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107499","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants with known bioaccumulative and toxic effects in aquatic ecosystems. This study assessed site-specific differences in PFAS contamination in fish from Ashumet Pond, Sudbury River, and Great Herring Pond (reference site) in Massachusetts. Fish from Ashumet Pond exhibited the highest PFAS concentrations, particularly perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), which exceeded levels in plasma almost 650 times those at the reference site. Principal component analysis identified distinct PFAS profiles at each site, reflecting localized contamination sources. Temporal analysis at Ashumet Pond revealed a substantial increase in plasma PFOS and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) from 2020 to 2022. Tissue distribution analyses showed the highest PFAS concentrations in plasma, followed by liver and muscle, consistent with PFAS binding affinity for blood proteins. Species-specific differences in PFAS bioaccumulation were observed, with largemouth bass (<em>Micropterus nigricans</em>) exhibiting higher body burdens than banded killifish (<em>Diaphanus fundulus</em>), likely due to trophic position and dietary exposure. Histopathological assessments and gene transcript analyses revealed associations between PFAS exposure and inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, and immune-related pathways, with the most pronounced molecular effects observed at the downstream site of the Sudbury River. This study underscores the importance of understanding site-specific contamination sources, exposure pathways, and biological effects of PFAS in fish. These findings would benefit from additional research on sediment contamination, temporal analyses at each site, trophic transfer, and transcriptomic analyses across multiple organs to further elucidate PFAS toxicity mechanisms and guide remediation efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 107499"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144664837","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 toxicity in fish: A potential review on sources, impacts, and solution","authors":"Md. Towhidul Islam ,&nbsp;Uttam Biswas Antu ,&nbsp;Md. Shifat Hossain ,&nbsp;Joyti Rani Paul ,&nbsp;Tahsin Hasan ,&nbsp;Pronayan Singha ,&nbsp;Sandip Mitra ,&nbsp;Sk Md Shoib Hasan ,&nbsp;Zulhilmi Ismail ,&nbsp;Md. Saiful Islam ,&nbsp;Taher Sahlabjii ,&nbsp;Abubakr M. Idris","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107498","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107498","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics are a growing environmental concern, particularly in aquatic ecosystems and seafood safety. This review article explores the sources of microplastics in fish, their effects on fish health and behaviour, the potential risks to human health, and possible solutions. The primary sources of microplastics include the breakdown of larger plastic debris, wastewater discharge, industrial activities, landfills, and agricultural practices. Fish accumulate microplastics based on factors such as trophic level, habitat, and feeding behaviour, leading to physical damage, growth and feeding reductions, hormonal disruptions, and altered behaviours. Microplastics also pose risks through bioaccumulation and biomagnification, with potential toxic effects on fish populations, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Additionally, microplastics in seafood present food safety concerns for humans, especially regarding chemical leaching and the absorption of toxins. While efforts to reduce microplastic pollution, such as better waste management and biodegradable alternatives, are underway, challenges remain, including limited data, technology, and regulation. Proposed solutions to mitigate microplastics in fish involve reducing plastic waste, improving wastewater treatment, and promoting sustainable materials. This review highlights critical research gaps, especially regarding the long-term effects on fish and ecosystems, and calls for standardized research methods, global cooperation, and innovative approaches to tackle the growing issue of microplastic pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 107498"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144664696","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":"Toxicological effects of dimethyl fumarate in Biomphalaria glabrata: A multi-stage study from embryo to adult","authors":"Yilu Feng ,&nbsp;Xianwei Li ,&nbsp;Yuncheng Qian ,&nbsp;Jialu Xu ,&nbsp;Hezheng Zheng ,&nbsp;Keda Chen ,&nbsp;Jiyuan Wang ,&nbsp;Ruiqi Weng ,&nbsp;Qingzhi Zhao ,&nbsp;Yijie Zhang ,&nbsp;Xinyi Fei ,&nbsp;Xiaofen Zhang ,&nbsp;Hongyu Li","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107511","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107511","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dimethyl Fumarate (DMF) is a widely used organic synthetic intermediate known for its low toxicity, high efficiency, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. It is commonly applied in food preservation and medical treatments. However, with the increasing use of DMF, its toxic effects on living organisms have attracted more and more attention. Current studies on the toxicity of DMF in aquatic ecosystems mainly focus on fish, while research on gastropod mollusks is relatively limited. This study aims to evaluate the multiple toxicity effects of DMF on the <em>Biomphalaria glabrata</em>, including acute and chronic toxicity in adults, embryonic development, hemocyte changes, and histopathological effects. Chronic exposure significantly inhibits the growth and reproductive capacity of <em>B. glabrata</em>. During embryonic development, DMF significantly increases embryonic mortality (LC₅₀ = 6.026 mg/L, at 120 h) and causes delayed embryonic development. Histological observations reveal that DMF causes significant pathological damage to vital organs such as the hepatopancreas of <em>B. glabrata</em>. This study reveals the toxic effects of DMF on mollusks, providing significant data support for further mechanistic studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 107511"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144680255","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":"Effect of acidification on the chronic toxicity of diclofenac to Daphnia magna","authors":"Katarzyna Bethke,&nbsp;Magda Caban","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107497","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107497","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pharmaceuticals, as ionizable compounds, are a challenging group of pollutants to analyze because the pH of the environment can alter its ecotoxicological features. However, changes in the toxicity of pharmaceuticals toward aquatic organisms were observed even when there was no change in the ionization of the molecules with a pH shift. Therefore, we conducted a study that aimed to check how pH influences the chronic toxicity of diclofenac (DCF, pKa ≈ 4.0) toward <em>Daphnia magna</em> at two pH levels, 7.0 and 8.7, where DCF is obtained as relatively polar anion. The performance of the experiment with OECD 211 was found to be challenging because of the medium pH shift during the exposure test. Acidification increased the toxicity of DCF, reducing the number of neonates (at a concentration of 1.3 mg l^-1) and showing a tendency towards delayed hatching and reduced number of hatchings. In addition, the acidification itself also changes <em>D. magna</em> reproduction, affecting the number of hatchings and the first day of hatching. We conclude that the pH, as a factor of toxicity modulation for ionizable compounds, needs to be evaluated and presented in scientific protocols.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 107497"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144662474","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 selenium on the model cnidarian Exaiptasia diaphana and its symbiotic algae","authors":"Caitlin Younis ,&nbsp;Emma F. Camp ,&nbsp;Jean-Baptiste Raina ,&nbsp;Tom Cresswell ,&nbsp;Francesca Gissi","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107495","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107495","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Characterising toxicity thresholds for coral reefs is essential for understanding and safeguarding these ecosystems. Coral reefs are highly sensitive to environmental changes, including pollutants and increased trace element concentrations. Corals and other cnidarians form symbiotic associations with photosynthetic algae (Symbiodiniaceae) allowing for diverse nutrient acquisition methods and effective nutrient transformation and recycling between the host animal and their Symbiodiniaceae. Selenium (Se), an essential element, supports crucial physiological functions in marine taxa but it can become toxic at elevated concentrations. Currently, Se exposure thresholds for cnidarians and Symbiodiniaceae remain unknown. To assess the impact of high inorganic Se concentrations on cnidarians and Symbiodiniaceae, we conducted toxicity tests using the model sea anemone, <em>Exaiptasia diaphana</em>, exposing individuals to Se-enriched seawater using Na₂SeO₃ (76 - 1100 µg Se/L) for 96 h. Mortality occurred in the highest concentration of Se (1100 µg/L) for all replicates, but 100 % survival was recorded in all lower concentrations, including 570 µg/L. This latter concentration exceeded environmentally relevant levels, negating the need to acquire more refined mortality data. In addition, decreases in oral disk and reduced tentacle length at higher Se exposures indicated potential sublethal effects and physiological stress where <em>E. diaphana</em> exposed to concentrations ranging from 245- 570 µg/L decreasing in size by ∼15–20 %. These findings contribute to our understanding of cnidarian physiology and stress responses, highlighting the importance of trace elements in coral reef environments. This knowledge is crucial for developing effective management strategies to protect and preserve vital ecosystems in the face of environmental challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 107495"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144655487","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":"Interactive effects of Titanium-based compounds with Gadolinium and Mercury in Mytilus galloprovincialis","authors":"Hanen Smii ,&nbsp;Carla Leite ,&nbsp;Eduarda Pereira ,&nbsp;Amadeu M.V.M. Soares ,&nbsp;Hamouda Beyrem ,&nbsp;Mohamed Dellali ,&nbsp;Rosa Freitas","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107494","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107494","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The combined toxicity of metals in aquatic environments is a critical concern due to the complex interactions between different metal contaminants, as well as their interactions with other environmental factors. These combined effects often result in synergistic, antagonistic, or additive toxic responses, leading to heightened risks for aquatic organisms and ecosystems. This study investigates the toxicity of titanium in its bulk form (Ti) and as nanoparticles (nTi) when combined with other elements like gadolinium (Gd) and mercury (Hg), focusing on their effects on the mussel <em>Mytilus galloprovincialis</em>. Mussels were exposed to Ti or nTi alone, or their combination with Gd or Hg. Biomarkers of metabolic capacity and oxidative stress were measured to assess the impacts on the organisms. The results showed that exposure to Ti and nTi alone did not significantly disrupt the mussels' metabolic capacity, energy reserves or antioxidant defense systems, indicating that these concentrations were below the toxicity threshold. However, when mussels were exposed to Gd and Hg, in combination with Ti or nTi, the metabolism increased, the detoxification enzyme rose, the redox homeostasis was disrupted, leading to cellular damage. The integrated biomarker index showed that mussels were more responsive to the combination of Ti/nTi+Hg, highlighting the elevated toxicity of co-exposure to Ti and Hg. These findings suggest that while Ti-based materials may not pose significant oxidative stress on their own, their interaction with more toxic elements like Gd and Hg exacerbates the organisms' metabolic burden, compromising their health. This study emphasizes the importance of considering pollutant mixtures in assessing the environmental impacts of emerging and traditional contaminants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 107494"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144664699","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":"Sublethal juvenile dioxin (TCDD) exposure alters sperm motility and whole-body vitellogenin parameters in adult male zebrafish (Danio rerio)","authors":"Danielle N Meyer ,&nbsp;Gabrielle F. Gonzalez ,&nbsp;Jonathan R Cowart ,&nbsp;Alex Haimbaugh ,&nbsp;Nicole M Dennis ,&nbsp;Tracie R Baker","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107496","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107496","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-<em>p</em>-dioxin (TCDD) is a persistent organic pollutant (POP) known for pronounced developmental and reproductive toxicity in humans, rodents, and fish. We previously determined that sublethal juvenile exposure in zebrafish (50 parts per trillion; 3- and 7-weeks post fertilization) resulted in transgenerational male-mediated infertility. Here, we used the same exposure paradigm to investigate potential effects on sperm motility and whole-body steroid and thyroid hormone levels contributing to infertility. In progressive sperm collected from developmentally exposed fish, velocity measures (VCL, VSL, VAP) were significantly decreased, while remaining kinematic parameters (LIN, STR, WOB, ALH, and BCF) were unaffected. Temporal analysis over four ten-second intervals revealed differential kinematics in exposed sperm. All three velocity metrics at both early (1) and late (4) timepoints were significantly decreased in progressive sperm of exposed fish, while kinematic parameters LIN, STR, and WOB were decreased at the final timepoint (4) only. Corresponding with motility outcomes, sperm structural genes were downregulated in spermatozoa cell clusters. Vitellogenin was significantly increased in whole-body homogenates of exposed adult males, while cortisol, 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT), testosterone, triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) levels were unaffected. While adverse reproductive outcomes of TCDD exposure are well-studied in fish, ours is the first to use CASA (computer-aided sperm analysis) to characterize impacts of TCDD exposure in fish. Vitellogenin induction and deficits in progressive sperm motility in male fish over 10 months after the initial exposure highlight the persistence of endocrine and reproductive dysregulation in these developmentally exposed fish, with concerning implications for sensitive populations in contaminated environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 107496"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144664697","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":"Interplay between algae and phthalates in the aquatic environment: review and perspectives","authors":"Joanna Lenarczyk","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107492","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107492","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the aquatic environment, algae are crucial for maintaining life as they produce oxygen and organic matter, while phthalates (phthalic acid esters, PAEs), are officially treated as water contaminants due to their ability to disrupt the human endocrine system. This review paper shows that the interactions between algae and PAEs are multidirectional. The last few decades of research have indicated that algae are susceptible to the toxic effects of PAEs, they degrade PAEs but can even produce them. Literature data indicate that PAEs can disturb the natural functioning of water ecosystems by causing changes in algal density, cellular components and physiology. On the other hand, some algae can remove PAEs, mainly in the process of biodegradation. It has been proved that PAEs in algal organisms are not only of external but also natural origin, playing a role as allelochemicals as well as presenting bioactive properties that can be used in medicine, pharmacy and cosmetology. Future research should focus on understanding the response of entire communities to the action of PAEs, the composition and concentration of which corresponds to natural conditions, and on finding species of algae that are both resistant to PAEs and able to maintain the concentration of these compounds in water at a reasonable level. We cannot treat PAEs only as water pollutants, but we should try to use them more for human health as our allies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 107492"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144664722","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 and genotoxic effects of carbamazepine and methylmercury on the gonads of Dreissena polymorpha","authors":"Clément Baratange ,&nbsp;Tainá Rocha de Almeida ,&nbsp;Jean Armengaud ,&nbsp;Isabelle Bonnard ,&nbsp;Elise David ,&nbsp;Laurence Delahaut ,&nbsp;Véronique Gaillet ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Guillon ,&nbsp;Mélodie Kielbasa ,&nbsp;Jean-Luc Loizeau ,&nbsp;Nicolas Maurin ,&nbsp;Stéphanie Sayen ,&nbsp;Claudia Cosio","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107493","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107493","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carbamazepine (CBZ) and methylmercury (MeHg) are pervasive contaminants that share molecular toxicity pathways (<em>e.g.</em>, neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, energy metabolism) and, in addition to their main toxicity target, are both suspected of reprotoxicity. Yet, the precise mechanisms behind these putative effects remain a subject of ongoing investigation. <em>Dreissena polymorpha</em> holds great potential for freshwater biomonitoring due to its wide distribution and filter-feeder lifestyle, but the influence of the reproductive stage for the biological response to pollutants is still understudied. Here, <em>D. polymorpha</em> males in the proliferation and maturation reproductive stages were exposed for 24 h to CBZ, MeHg and CBZ+MeHg. We combined the comet assay, proteomics and targeted RT-qPCR approaches to evaluate the impact of those exposures on the gonads. In the proliferation stage, both single and co-exposures modulated transcripts involved in antioxidant defenses. In the maturation stage, no significant modulation was observed with targeted approaches, most likely due to a higher background level masking the effect of pollutants. At both stages, differentially abundant proteins were involved in similar metabolic pathways, including the energy metabolism, antioxidant defenses and gonadal cell development. Proteomics also revealed modulation of proteins involved in genotoxicity pathways exclusively in the proliferation stage, aligning with the observation of an increase in genotoxic damage. MeHg exposure caused more alterations than co-exposure, in contrast with previous studies on other organs during similar exposure in <em>D. polymorpha</em>. This underlined the importance of assessing organ-specific responses to pollutants. Moreover, data confirmed a newly identified reprotoxic effect of MeHg, reinforcing the need to better consider the reproductive stage in biomonitoring programs using this species, and species with similar characteristics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 107493"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144655486","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":"Impact of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) on gonadal development in zebrafish larvae and melatonin therapeutic intervention","authors":"Zhilong Liu ,&nbsp;Yewei Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaojun Jing ,&nbsp;Shengyan Su","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107484","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107484","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs), owing to their high specific surface area and reactivity, are extensively applied across various fields while concurrently posing certain hazards to aquatic organisms. This study comprehensively investigated the detrimental effects of CuNPs on the reproductive system of zebrafish and emphasized the examination of the potential therapeutic role of melatonin. The research found that CuNPs interfere with zebrafish gonadal development through oxidative damage, endocrine disruption (upregulated estradiol, E₂; downregulated testosterone, T), and suppression of reproduction-related genes, consequently causing impaired germ cell development and even organismal mortality. Through transcriptomic research, we discovered that CuNPs induce gonadal oxidative stress (Oxidative phosphorylation pathway) and endoplasmic reticulum stress (Protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum pathway), downregulate <em>zgc:153,993</em> to activate the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, and inhibit the <em>hsp70l</em>-MAPK/ERK feedback loop to amplify damage; the organism compensatorily upregulated <em>cyp2x12</em> to enhance detoxification function and upregulated <em>dync1i1/dync1li2</em> to activate the Phagosome pathway to clear aberrant apoptotic products. Melatonin, by antagonizing ROS and repairing stress-induced damage, modulated the expression of most key gonadal development genes to restore homeostasis. Simultaneously, it transcriptionally upregulated ribosome biogenesis gene (<em>si:dkey-103j14.5</em>) and lysosomal pathway gene (<em>si:ch211–122f10.4</em>) to alleviate nucleic acid oxidation damage and clear damaged substrates. Finally, by upregulating <em>got2a</em> to activate the aspartate metabolism pathway, it achieved multi-target therapeutic intervention against gonadal injury under CuNPs exposure. Our study reveals the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the reproductive toxicity of CuNPs; melatonin, as an endogenous protective agent, shows promise in mitigating the ecotoxicological effects of CuNPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 107484"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144613153","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}