S. Bretaud et al., Effects of carbofuran, diuron, and nicosulfuron on acetylcholinesterase activity in goldfish (Carassius auratus), ECOTOX ENV, 47(2), 2000, pp. 117-124
Juvenile goldfish (Carassius auratus) were exposed to three widely used pes
ticides; carbofuran, diuron, and nicosulfuron. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
activity and molecular forms of AChE were first characterized in brain and
skeletal muscle of unexposed fish. Skeletal muscle had higher AChE activity
than brain (306 and 215 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively). In brain, four
molecular forms of AChE mere found: A12, G4, G2, and G1. In the muscle, th
ree molecular forms were found A12, A8, and G2, AChE activity was then eval
uated in both tissues of fish exposed to different concentration of pestici
des (5, 50, and 500 mug/L) for 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. In brain, AChE activity
was significantly inhibited during all the periods of exposure in response
to 50 mug/L (19-28%) and 500 mug/L (85-87%) carbofuran, Such effect was ob
served in the muscle only at 500 mug/L (86-92%). Carbofuran had no effect o
n the distribution of molecular forms. Significant inhibitions (9-12%) of b
rain AChE activity were also observed in response to diuron and nicosulfuro
n at 500 mug/L during all periods of exposure and for 50 mug/L nicosulfuron
after 24 and 48 h. This study pointed out short-term effects of exposure t
o sublethal concentrations of the three pesticides, ranging among different
chemical families, on brain and muscle AChE in goldfish. (C) 2000 Academic
Press.