Publication Abstract

The viviparous blenny (Zoarces viviparus) as a bioindicator of contaminant exposure: application of biomarkers of apoptosis and DNA damage

The viviparous blenny (Zoarces viviparus) as a bioindicator of contaminant exposure: application of biomarkers of apoptosis and DNA damage

B.P. Lyons, J. Bignell, G.D. Stentiford and S.W. Fiest

The viviparous blenny (Zoarces viviparus), also known as eelpout, is considered a suitable biomonitor for use in European estuarine and coastal waters. We have previously shown that Z. viviparus from the industralised Tyne estuary (UK) display certain histopathologies (e.g. ovotestis and nuclear/cellular pleomorphism), which are associated with contaminant exposure (Stentiford, G.D, Longshaw, M., Lyons, B.P., Jones, G., Green, M. & Feist, S.W. (2003). Marine Environmental Research 55, 137-159). Furthermore, the prevalence of these pathologies was higher than in fish collected from a less contaminated reference site (the Alde estuary, UK). Here, tissue samples were collected from Z. viviparus from the Tyne and Alde estuaries (in the spring and autumn) and analysed for DNA adducts using the ³²P-postlabelling assay and for histopathology. Z. viviparus caught from the Tyne during the spring (56.4 ± 18.5 adducts per 10⁸ nucleotides) and autumn (63.1 ± 7.5 adducts per 10⁸ nucleotides) exhibited patterns of DNA adducts which indicated exposure to a complex mixture of genotoxins. In contrast, levels of DNA adducts in Z. viviparous from Alde estuary were significantly lower during both sampling periods. Histopathological changes to the gonads included intersex (ovotestis) and increased germ cell apoptosis (detected via the TUNEL assay) in male fish captured from the Tyne estuary. Further studies on the use of these reproductive biomarkers of contaminant exposure are planned.

Reference:

B.P. Lyons, J. Bignell, G.D. Stentiford and S.W. Fiest (2004) The viviparous blenny (Zoarces viviparus) as a bioindicator of contaminant exposure: application of biomarkers of apoptosis and DNA damage. Marine Environment Research, 58(2-5): 757-761

B.P. Lyons*, J. Bignell*, G.D. Stentiford* and S.W. Fiest*.

Marine Environment Research, 58(2-5): 757-761