Environmental Pollution and Protection

Download PDF (577 KB) PP. 91 - 99 Pub. Date: December 1, 2018

DOI: 10.22606/epp.2018.34001

• Ana Paula de Castro Rodrigues^*
  Geochemistry Department, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil
• Rodrigo Guerra Carvalheira
  Geochemistry Department, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil
• Vanessa Gomes
  CESTEH, Osvaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Ana Rosa Linde Arias
  CESTEH, Osvaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Nádia Regina Pereira Almosny
  Veterinary School, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil
• Zuleica Carmen Castilhos
  Centre for Mineral Technology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Edison Dausacker Bidone
  Geochemistry Department, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an important regulatory enzyme that controls the transmission of nerve impulses across cholinergic synapses. This study evaluated AChE activity as an effect biomarker for ecological risk assessment related to mercury contamination in fish from Guanabara bay, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. A total of 30 fishes were collected, 14 specimens of Genidens genidens and 16 specimens of Haemulon sp. at three sampling stations. AChE activity varied from 0.18 to 1.29 μmol min-1 mg-1 protein for G. genidens and a negative correlation between AChE activity in muscles and mercury concentrations in kidney was found (-0.55; p<0.05; n=14). For Haemulon sp. the enzyme activity showed a smaller range (0.06 to 0.22 μmol min-1 mg-1 protein) and a negative correlation between mercury concentrations in muscles and AChE activity was found (r = -0.570; p<0.05; n=16), suggesting a decrease on enzymatic response in specimens with higher mercury bioaccumulation.

Biomarkers, cholinesterases, Genidens genidens, Haemulon sp., metals.

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