Chromium(III) induces oxidative stress in goldfish liver and kidney

• Published in: Aquatic toxicology Vol. 93; no. 1; pp. 45 - 52
• Main Authors: Lushchak, Oleh V., Kubrak, Olha I., Lozinsky, Olexandr V., Storey, Janet M., Storey, Kenneth B., Lushchak, Volodymyr I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 04.06.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Antioxidant enzymes; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Carassius auratus; Catalase - metabolism; Chlorides - toxicity; Chromium Compounds - toxicity; Chromium(III); Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Glutathione; Glutathione Disulfide - metabolism; Glutathione Reductase - metabolism; Glutathione Transferase - metabolism; Goldfish; Goldfish - metabolism; Kidney - drug effects; Kidney - metabolism; Lipid peroxides; Lipid Peroxides - metabolism; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Protein Carbonylation - drug effects; Protein carbonyls; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Techniques; Chromium(III); Oxidative stress; Carassius auratus; Antioxidant enzymes; Goldfish; Protein carbonyls; Glutathione; Lipid peroxides; Ecotoxicology; Enzyme; Toxicity; Liver; Biological marker; Lipids; Antioxidant; Protein; Kidney; Heavy metal; Freshwater environment; Aquatic environment; Pollutant; Vertebrata; Pisces; Chromium
• ISSN: 0166-445X; 1879-1514
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2009.03.007

In the environment chromium is found mainly in two valence states—hexavalent chromium (Cr 6+) and trivalent chromium (Cr 3+). The present study evaluates the effects of Cr 3+ exposure on goldfish by analyzing parameters of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in liver and kidney of fish given 96 h exposures to Cr 3+ concentrations of 1, 2.5, 5 or 10 mg/l in aquarium water. Cr 3+ exposure did not alter two parameters of oxidative stress—protein carbonyl content and lipid peroxide concentrations in either organ. However, Cr 3+ exposure did decrease total glutathione concentration in liver by 34–69% and in kidney to 36–49% of the respective control values. Oxidized GSSG content fell by similar percentages so that the ratio [GSSG]/[total glutathione] remained constant at all Cr 3+ exposure levels except in liver under the highest, 10 mg/l, exposure level. In liver, exposure to 1–5 mg/l Cr 3+ led to a decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) by 29–36%, and at 10 mg/l Cr 3+ the reduction was 54%, whereas in kidney ∼30% reductions in SOD activity were seen at concentrations 1 and 10 mg/l Cr 3+. Catalase activity was not significantly affected by 1–5 mg/l Cr 3+, but was reduced by 57 and 42% in liver and kidney, respectively. Chromium exposure also reduced the activity of glutathione-S-transferase in both organs by 17–50% but did not affect glutathione reductase or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities. A comparison of Cr 3+ effects on goldfish liver and kidney metabolism indicates that the trivalent ion induces stronger oxidative stress than Cr 6+ at the same concentrations.