Application of a series of biomarkers in Scallop Chlamys farreri to assess the toxic effects after exposure to a priority hazardous and noxious substance (HNS)-Acrylonitrile

The antioxidant enzymes and detoxification parameters responses of the scallop Chlamys farreri to different degree of acrylonitrile (AN) were investigated. Accordingly, the median lethal concentration (LC50) at 96 h was 98.5 mg/L AN. Results from chronic toxicity test demonstrated that superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were stimulated in the highest two doses of AN (2.0 and 5.0 mg/L), but significantly inhibited in the highest concentration (5.0 mg/L) at the end of the exposure. The levels of DNA strand breaks, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protein carbonyl (PC) contents showed damage effects exposed AN at the highest two doses. Additionally, AN significantly induced the enzymatic activity of glutathione-s-transferase (GST), related mRNA expression levels of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and GST-pi; and no significant changes were found on CYP1A1 mRNA expression and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity. Our results indicated that P-gp and GST-pi mRNA expression in digestive glands of the scallop C. farreri may potentially be used in ecological risk assessment of hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) contamination of marine.