Acute toxicity and responses of antioxidant systems to 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium bromide at different developmental stages of goldfish

• DOI: 10.1007/s10646-011-0785-z
• Publication Date: 2011-09-12T16:03:02Z
• Authors: Xiao-Yu Li; Shi-Hu Zeng; Xiang-Yi Dong; Jun-Guo Ma; Jian-Ji Wang
• Keywords: Glutathione Peroxidase; Superoxide Dismutase; Imidazoles; Ionic Liquids; Catalase; Kidney; Glutathione; 01 natural sciences; Antioxidants; Intestines; Oxidative Stress; Liver; Goldfish; Malondialdehyde; Toxicity Tests, Acute; Animals; Lipid Peroxidation; 14. Life underwater; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Acute toxicity of 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium bromide ([C(8)mim]Br) to goldfish at different developmental stages and responses of the antioxidant system in adult goldfish were evaluated in the present study. The results indicate that post-embryonic developmental toxicity of [C(8)mim]Br on goldfish is developmental-stage dependent. The juvenile and larva goldfish are more sensitive to [C(8)mim]Br-toxicity than the adult fish. Histological observations in adult goldfish reveal that acute [C(8)mim]Br exposure damages the hepatopancreas, intestines, and kidneys, indicating that these are possible target organs of [C(8)mim]Br toxicity in goldfish. Subsequent biochemical assays in adult goldfish show that [C(8)mim]Br also induces changes in the activities of the superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione content of fish hepatopancreas. These results suggest that [C(8)mim]Br exposure may induce oxidant stress and lipid peroxidation in hepatopancreas of adult goldfish. In addition, we also find that [C(8)mim]Br causes a remarkable increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the hepatopancreas of adult goldfish, and thus we think that the MDA level change can be a biomarker of [C(8)mim]Br toxicity in goldfish. The present study indicates that ionic liquids can be a threat to the survival, growth, and development of the fish population once they are accidentally leaked into aquatic ecosystems.