Browsing by Subject "Detoxification"

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    Anthropogenic electromagnetic fields and their influence on growth, humoral Immunity, and metal concentrations in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)
    (Elsevier, 2026-01-27) Ortiz García, María; García Gamuz, José Antonio; Martínez López, Salvadora; Esteban Abad, María de los Ángeles; Biología Celular e Histología; Facultad de Biología
    The increasing presence of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) in marine environments, driven by human activities and climate change, poses a potential risk to aquatic organisms. This study investigated the physiological and immunological effects of ELF-EMF exposure on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), a key species in Mediterranean aquaculture. Fish were exposed to ELF-EMF for one or three weeks, and their growth, serum immune parameters (peroxidase and lysozyme activities), and tissue chemical elements were compared with those of unexposed controls. No significant differences were observed in fish weight, length, or serum immune parameters between the exposed and control groups at any time point. However, a significant reduction in liver cadmium (Cd) levels was detected in fish exposed to ELF-EMF for three weeks, suggesting potential modulation of metal detoxification pathways. The concentrations of other elements, including arsenic (As), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), showed minor changes in various tissues. The levels of sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and potassium (K) were altered in some tissues after one week of ELF-EMF exposure but generally returned to control levels after three weeks. These findings indicate that short-term ELF-EMF exposure does not significantly affect growth or innate immunity in gilthead seabream under the tested conditions. The observed alterations in tissue levels of toxic and trace elements, as well as macronutrients, indicate potential interactions between ELF-EMF, metal homeostasis, and detoxification mechanisms, necessitating further investigation. This study contributes to the understanding of the effects of anthropogenic ELF-EMF on marine organisms and highlights the need for continued research to assess the long-term ecological implications of increasing ELF-EMF levels in aquatic environments.
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    Cyanobacteria and Macroinvertebrate Relationships in Freshwater Benthic Communities beyond Cytotoxicity
    (MDPI, 2024-04-15) Ubero Pascal, Nicolás; Aboal Sanjurjo, Marina; Zoología y Antropología Física
    Cyanobacteria are harmful algae that are monitored worldwide to prevent the effects of the toxins that they can produce. Most research efforts have focused on direct or indirect effects on human populations, with a view to gain easy accurate detection and quantification methods, mainly in planktic communities, but with increasing interest shown in benthos. However, cyanobacteria have played a fundamental role from the very beginning in both the development of our planet’s biodiversity and the construction of new habitats. These organisms have colonized almost every possible planktic or benthic environment on earth, including the most extreme ones, and display a vast number of adaptations. All this explains why they are the most important or the only phototrophs in some habitats. The negative effects of cyanotoxins on macroinvertebrates have been demonstrated, but usually under conditions that are far from natural, and on forms of exposure, toxin concentration, or composition. The cohabitation of cyanobacteria with most invertebrate groups is long-standing and has probably contributed to the development of detoxification means, which would explain the survival of some species inside cyanobacteria colonies. This review focuses on benthic cyanobacteria, their capacity to produce several types of toxins, and their relationships with benthic macroinvertebrates beyond toxicity.
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    The triple role of glutathione S-transferases in mammalian male fertility
    (2019-12-05) Llavanera, Marc; Mateo Otero, Yentel; Bonet, Sergi; Barranco Cascales, Isabel; Fernández Fuerstes, Beatriz; Yeste, Marc; Medicina y Cirugía Animal
    Male idiopathic infertility accounts for 15-25% of reproductive failure. One of the factors that has been linked to this condition is oxidative stress (OS), defined as the imbalance between antioxidants and reactive oxygen species. Amongst the different factors that protect the cell against OS, the members of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) superfamily play an important role. Interestingly, reduction or lack of some GSTs has been associated to infertility in men. Therefore, and to clarify the relationship between GSTs and male fertility, the aim of this work is to describe the role that GSTs play in the male reproductive tract and in sperm physiology. To that end, the present review provides a novel perspective on the triple role of GSTs (detoxification, regulation of cell signalling and fertilisation), and reports their localisation in sperm, seminal plasma and the male reproductive tract. Furthermore, we also tackle the existing correlation between some GST classes and male fertility. Due to the considerable impact of GSTs in human pathology and their tight relationship with fertility, future research should address the specific role of these proteins in male fertility, which could result in new approaches for the diagnosis and/or treatment of male infertility.