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Structural and functional changes in gill mitochondrial membranes from the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to tri‐ n ‐butyltin
Author(s) -
Fiorini Rosamaria,
Pagliarani Alessandra,
Nesci Salvatore,
Pirini Maurizio,
Tucci Elisabetta,
Ventrella Vittoria
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.1764
Subject(s) - tributyltin , mytilus , toxicant , mussel , environmental chemistry , biocide , oligomycin , biofouling , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , atpase , toxicity , ecology , membrane , organic chemistry , enzyme
Abstract The use of tributyltin (TBT) as a biocide in antifouling paints leads to a ruinous input of this contaminant in the aquatic environment. Human exposure to TBT mainly occurs through ingestion of contaminated seafood such as filter‐feeding mollusks. Tributyltin is known to act as a membrane‐active toxicant on several targets, but especially on the mitochondria, and by several mechanisms. The effects of tributyltin on fatty acid composition, on Mg‐adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activities, and on the membrane physical state were investigated in gill mitochondrial membranes from cultivated mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to 0.5 µg/L and 1.0 µg/L TBT and unexposed for 120 h. The higher TBT exposure dose induced a decrease in the total and n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially 22:6 n‐3, and an activation of the oligomycin‐sensitive Mg‐ATPase. Both TBT concentrations decreased mitochondrial membrane polarity detected by Laurdan steady‐state fluorescence spectroscopy. These findings may help cast light on the multiple modes of action of this toxicant. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:877–884. © 2012 SETAC