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Antioxidant defenses in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) exposed to contaminated sediments and model prooxidants: short-term and heritable responses.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Meyer, JN; Smith, JD; Winston, GW; Di Giulio, RT
Published in: Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
December 2003

A population of killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) inhabiting a Superfund site on the Elizabeth River (VA, USA) is tolerant of the acute toxicity of the sediments from the site; previous work suggests that this tolerance is based both on genetic adaptation and physiological acclimation. In this study, larval first- and second-generation (F1 and F2) offspring of Elizabeth River killifish were more resistant to the toxicity of t-butyl hydroperoxide (a model prooxidant) than were King's Creek (reference site) offspring, indicating a heritable tolerance of exposure to oxidative stress. In laboratory experiments designed to elucidate the mechanistic basis for this increased tolerance, we exposed laboratory-raised F1 and F2 offspring from Elizabeth River and King's Creek killifish to Elizabeth River sediments, menadione, or t-butyl hydroperoxide, and measured the following antioxidant parameters: total oxyradical scavenging capacity (TOSC); glutathione content (total and disulfide); activities of glutathione reductase (GR); glutathione peroxidase (GPx); and glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) activities and protein levels of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD); and protein levels of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). Exposure to Elizabeth River sediments lead to consistent increases in total glutathione concentrations, GR activities, and MnSOD protein levels, and in some cases increased GPx and GCL activities, in both populations. In addition, Elizabeth River offspring (larvae) showed higher basal TOSC values, glutathione concentrations, and MnSOD protein levels. These data suggest that upregulated antioxidant defenses play a role in both short-term (physiological) and heritable (multigenerational/evolutionary) tolerance of the toxicity of these Superfund sediments. The responses of specific antioxidant parameters, including sex-specific responses in the cases of glutathione concentrations and GR activity, are also discussed.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

DOI

EISSN

1879-1514

ISSN

0166-445X

Publication Date

December 2003

Volume

65

Issue

4

Start / End Page

377 / 395

Related Subject Headings

  • tert-Butylhydroperoxide
  • Vitamin K 3
  • Virginia
  • Toxicology
  • Toxicity Tests, Acute
  • Rivers
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Glutathione Reductase
  • Glutathione
  • Geologic Sediments
 

Citation

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Meyer, J. N., Smith, J. D., Winston, G. W., & Di Giulio, R. T. (2003). Antioxidant defenses in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) exposed to contaminated sediments and model prooxidants: short-term and heritable responses. Aquatic Toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 65(4), 377–395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2003.06.001
Meyer, Joel N., Jim D. Smith, Gary W. Winston, and Richard T. Di Giulio. “Antioxidant defenses in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) exposed to contaminated sediments and model prooxidants: short-term and heritable responses.Aquatic Toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 65, no. 4 (December 2003): 377–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2003.06.001.
Meyer JN, Smith JD, Winston GW, Di Giulio RT. Antioxidant defenses in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) exposed to contaminated sediments and model prooxidants: short-term and heritable responses. Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands). 2003 Dec;65(4):377–95.
Meyer, Joel N., et al. “Antioxidant defenses in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) exposed to contaminated sediments and model prooxidants: short-term and heritable responses.Aquatic Toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands), vol. 65, no. 4, Dec. 2003, pp. 377–95. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.aquatox.2003.06.001.
Meyer JN, Smith JD, Winston GW, Di Giulio RT. Antioxidant defenses in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) exposed to contaminated sediments and model prooxidants: short-term and heritable responses. Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands). 2003 Dec;65(4):377–395.
Journal cover image

Published In

Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

DOI

EISSN

1879-1514

ISSN

0166-445X

Publication Date

December 2003

Volume

65

Issue

4

Start / End Page

377 / 395

Related Subject Headings

  • tert-Butylhydroperoxide
  • Vitamin K 3
  • Virginia
  • Toxicology
  • Toxicity Tests, Acute
  • Rivers
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Glutathione Reductase
  • Glutathione
  • Geologic Sediments