Histopathological Evaluation of the Exposure by Cyanobacteria Cultive Containing [d-Leu1]Microcystin-LR on Lithobates catesbeianus Tadpoles

• Main Authors: Osmindo Rodrigues Pires Júnior, Natiela Beatriz de Oliveira, Renan J. Bosque, Maria Fernanda Nice Ferreira, Veronica Morais Aurélio da Silva, Ana Carolina Martins Magalhães, Carlos José Correia de Santana, Mariana de Souza Castro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-08-01
• Series: Toxins
• Subjects: [d-Leu1]Microcystin-LR; Lithobates catesbeianus; tadpoles; exposure; Histopathological evaluation
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/10/8/318

This study evaluated the effects of [d-Leu1]Microcystin-LR variant by the exposure of Lithobates catesbeianus tadpole to unialgal culture Microcystis aeruginosa NPLJ-4 strain. The Tadpole was placed in aquariums and exposed to Microcystis aeruginosa culture or disrupted cells. For 16 days, 5 individuals were removed every 2 days, and tissue samples of liver, skeletal muscle, and intestinal tract were collected for histopathology and bioaccumulation analyses. After exposure, those surviving tadpoles were placed in clean water for 15 days to evaluate their recovery. A control without algae and toxins was maintained in the same conditions and exhibited normal histology and no tissue damage. In exposed tadpoles, samples were characterized by serious damages that similarly affected the different organs, such as loss of adhesion between cells, nucleus fragmentation, necrosis, and hemorrhage. Samples showed signs of recovery but severe damages were still observed. Neither HPLC-PDA nor mass spectrometry analysis showed any evidence of free Microcystins bioaccumulation.