A perspective on molecular and cellular biology-based developmental toxicology biomarkers

The process of development is intricate and couple-dependent phenomenon.Accordingly,the study of molecular and cellular biology-based developmental toxicology biomarkers increasingly is becoming an important part of risk assessment and management of chemicals for detection of health outcomes and/or biological endpoint like cytotoxicity,cell death,etc.Since,the evolution of developmental toxicology field a number of tools/markers have been developed or addressed to deal with developmental outcomes,which can ultimately be used for the development of adverse outcome pathways(AOPs)of developmental toxicants.As a result,this paper provides an overview of the current state of developmental toxicology biomarkers and describes the strategies used in the selection and evaluation of such biomarkers in the context of developmental toxicity studies.Here,we discuss about the biological markers that are directly linked to developmental toxicity with respect to future revolutionary perspectives.Additionally,this chapter will address different associated outcomes of developmental exposure by intriguing advance techniques.The discussion focuses on the challenges associated with the development of biomarkers for developmental toxicity and highlights some of the recent advances in this area.Finally,the chapter concludes with a brief discussion of the future prospects for the use of molecular and cellular biology-based developmental toxicity biomarkers.Hope the present state of the art will provide a succinct summary of recent developments of biomarkers of developmental toxicology.

Direct choline administration in semi-intensive pisciculture system: A positive contaminant

Present work evaluated the possible impact of choline on metabolic enzymes of cultured fish species into a semi-intensive pond culture system,reared with Catla catla(catla),Labeo rohita(rahu),Clarias batracus(magur)and Anabas testudineus(climbing perch)for 90 days in two seasons.Choline was added directly into the pond water periodically throughout the experimental tenure.The water quality parameters of each experimental pond were monitored and were analyzed in 15 days interval throughout the experimental tenure in both the seasons.Results were compared with treatment as choline-fed and control as non-choline-fed conditions during breeding(June-Aug.)and dry(Nov.-Jan.)seasons.The metabolic enzymes,viz.,LDH(Lactate dehydrogenase),MDH(Malate dehydrogenase),and G6PDH(Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase)activities in the muscle,liver,and AchE(Acetylcholine esterase)activity in the brain and muscle revealed maximum significantly(p<0.01),but ALT(Alanine aminotransferase)and AST(Aspartate aminotransferase)activity showed significant(p<0.01)depletion in the muscle and liver in treatment-breeding(TB)condition.The fishes under treatment-dry(TD)condition presented significant(p<0.01)higher elevation in HK(Hexokinase)activity in the muscle and liver.Additionally,the result of principal component analysis(PCA)depicted the positive as well as in some cases a negative correlation among the enzymatic activities both in dry and breeding seasons.So,it can be inferred that choline enrichment in fishes can substantiate the well nutritionally balanced food-flesh for consumption under this farm culture and the choline behaved as a positive contaminant into the pond eco-system under the semi-intensive culture condition.

Integrative assessment of biomarker responses in teleostean fishes exposed to glyphosate-based herbicide(Excel Mera 71)

Present study deals with the effects of glyphosate-based herbicide,Excel Mera 71 on Anabas testudineus,Heteropnestes fossilis and Oreochromis niloticus in field conditions(1.85 kg/ha)based on anti-oxidative,metabolic and digestive responses.For this study following biomarkers viz.,acetylcholinesterase(AChE),lipid peroxidation(LPO),catalase(CAT),glutathione-S-transferase(GST),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),amylase,lipase and protease were investigated in gill,stomach,intestine,liver,kidney,brain,muscle and spinal cord of the concerned fish species.Enzyme activities were significantly altered by glyphosate exposure after 30 days,these activities were tissue as well as species specific.The results suggested that these biomarkers could be used to assess the ecological risks of glyphosate on fish.Bioaccumulation factor(BAF)studied in different aquatic natural macrophytes showed order of Alternanthera philoxeroides>Azolla pinnata>Lemna sp.(Minor)>Lemna sp.(Major)>Pistia stratiotes,while transfer factor(TF)showed the order of Pistia stratiotes>Alternanthera philoxeroides>Lemna sp.Bioconcentration factor(BCF)study showed maximum accumulation of glyphosate in liver,kidney or intestine,and minimum either in bone or stomach irrespective of fish species.An integrated biomarker response(IBR),which uses a battery of biomarkers to calculate the standardized scores for each biomarker responses ranging from physiological to biochemical/molecular responses,was evaluated by combining the multiple biomarkers into a single value to evaluate quantitatively the toxicological effects of glyphosate.In general,the multiple indices exhibited variations and A.testudineus was more affected than other fish species;maximum IBR value was observed for LPO and minimum in case of ALT.The order of integrated biomarkers caused by glyphosate treatment was recorded as follows:LPO>Amylase>CAT>AST>Protease>Lipase>ALP>GST>AChE>ALT for A.testudineus,LPO>AChE>AST>Protease>CAT>Amylase>Lipase>GST>ALP>ALT for H.fossilis and AChE>CAT>LPO>AST>Amylase>GST>Protease>ALP>Lipase>ALT for O.niloticus.Finally,IBR analysis is able to distinguish the variations between different parameters and might be a useful tool for the quantification of integrated responses induced by glyphosate toward fish.

Dose specific responses of Anabas testudineus(Bloch)to anthracene(PAH):Haematological and biochemical manifestation

Present work compared the toxicological responses of A.testudineus(Bloch)to anthracene exposure after treatment with two concentrations i.e.,25%(0.0075 mg/l)and 50%(0.015 mg/l)of LC50 value(0.030 mg/l)for different exposure periods of 1,5,10,15 and 21 day(s).An intensive comparison of the effects was made based on haematological and biochemical parameters of blood.Haematological responses revealed significant increase in some blood parameters,viz.,WBC,%LYM,MCV,MCH and MCHC but RBC,Hb,PCV and PLT showed decreasing trends.Biochemical responses like CHOLES,PRO,ALB,Trig showed enhanced pattern in the initial exposure of day one then reduced gradually but GLU,GPT,Ca,ALP,HDL,and LDL showed reverse pattern.Additionally,integrated biomarker responses(IBR)indicated that the biochemical parameters are more useful in determining the anthracene stress on fish health than the haematological parameters.Overall findings of this study suggested that the IBR analysis is a useful tool in monitoring quantitative(dose-specific)as well as qualitative(exposure-specific)responses to toxicological effects of anthracene exposure on fish health.