Sulfoxaflor, Zn2+ and their combinations disrupt the antioxidant and osmoregulatory (Ca2+-ATPase) system in Daphnia magna

Zinc mitigates cadmium-induced sperm dysfunction through regulating Ca2+ and metallothionein expression in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal element that might adversely affect sperm function such as the acrosome reaction (AR). Although it is widely recognized that zinc (Zn) plays a crucial role in sperm quality, the complete elucidation of how Zn ameliorates Cd-induced sperm dysfunction is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the protective effects of Zn against the sperm dysfunction induced by Cd in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense. The results demonstrated that Cd exposure not only impaired the sperm ultrastructure, but also caused sperm dysfunction by decreasing the AR induction rate, acrosome enzyme activity, and Ca2+ content in sperm while elevating the activity and transcription expression of key Ca2+ signaling pathway-related proteins Calmodulin (CAM) and Ca2+-ATPase. However, the administration of Zn was found to alleviate Cd-induced sperm morphological and functional disorders by increasing the activity and transcription levels of CaM and Ca2+-ATPase, thereby regulating intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and reversing the decrease in Ca2+ contents caused by Cd. Furthermore, this study was the first to investigate the distribution of metallothionein (MT) in the AR of S. henanense, and it was found that Zn can reduce the elevated levels of MT in crabs caused by Cd, demonstrating the significance of Zn in inducing MT to participate in the AR process and in metal detoxification in S. henanense. These findings offer novel perspectives and substantiation regarding the utilization of Zn as a protective agent against Cd-induced toxicity and hold significant practical implications for mitigating Cd-induced sperm dysfunction.

Binary effects of fluoxetine and zinc on the biomarker responses of the non-target model organism Daphnia magna

The antidepressant effect of zinc on mammals has been documented in recent decades, and the concentration of the antidepressant fluoxetine (FLX) in aquatic environments has been rising constantly. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the combined toxicity of a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (FLX) and Zn2+ on a non-target aquatic model organism Daphnia magna. Animals were exposed to single and binary combinations of FLX (20.5 and 41 µg/L for subchronic and 41 and 82 µg/L for acute exposures) and Zn2+ (40 µg/L for subchronic and 80 µg/L for acute exposures). In vivo experiments were done for 7 days subchronic and 48 h acute exposure, while subcellular supernatants of whole Daphnia lysate (WDL) were directly treated with the same concentrations used in the acute experiments. Morphological characteristics, Ca2+-ATPase, antioxidant enzyme activities, and lipid peroxidation were examined. There was antioxidant system suppression and Ca2+-ATPase inhibition despite the diverse response patterns due to duration, concentration, and toxicant type. After acute exposure, biomarkers showed a diminishing trend compared to subchronic exposure. According to integrated biomarker response index (IBR) analysis, in vivo Zn2+ exposure was reasonably effective on the health of D. magna, whereas exposure of WDL to Zn2+ had a lesser impact. FLX toxicity increased in a concentration-dependent manner, reversed by the combined exposure. We concluded that potential pro-oxidative and adverse Ca2+-ATPase effects of FLX and Zn2+ in D. magna may also have harmful impact on ecosystem levels. Pharmaceutical exposure (FLX) should be considered along with their potential to interact with other toxicants in aquatic biota.

Oxidative and osmoregulatory effects of imidacloprid, cadmium, and their combinations on Daphnia magna

Oxidative stress and osmoregulatory system damage-inducing potential of binary mixtures of neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid (IMI) and Cd²⁺ in Daphnia magna were evaluated. Animals were subjected to subchronic (7 days) and acute (48 h) of IMI and Cd²⁺ effects with single and binary mixtures. ATPase and antioxidant enzyme activities with lipid peroxidation were measured. Morphometric characteristics were also evaluated. Response patterns showed variability due to the duration, concentration, and toxicant type. While the enzyme activities mostly showed a decreasing trend upon the subchronic IMI effect, there was an increasing trend after the Cd²⁺. Declined enzyme activities were more pronounced with the acute higher IMI+Cd²⁺ exposure. Ca²⁺-ATPase and CAT were the most sensitive biomarkers in the toxicity response. IMI+Cd²⁺ exposures are appeared to increase their toxic effects due to their oxidative potential. ATPase inhibition and antioxidant enzyme alterations with a decrease in morphometric characteristics in Daphnia even at their low concentrations of IMI and Cd²⁺ show evidence of their toxicities on aquatic life. It was emphasized that investigating the combined effects of toxicants at their environmental level based on the multi-biomarker approach is essential in toxicity evaluation.