Sex-specific metabolic dysregulation in digestive glands of green mussels following exposure to triazophos

As a ubiquitous environmental pollutant in China, triazophos (TP) is known to have neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, and reproductive toxicity to mussels. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of TP toxicity, metabolic changes in the digestive glands of Perna viridis in different sexes were examined after treated with 35 & mu;g/L TP. Notably, 158 significant different metabolites (SDMs) were detected in TP-treated mussels and more than half of the SDMs were lipids and lipid-like molecules, which suggested that TP disturbed the lipid metabolism of P. viridis. In addition, metabolites associated with neurotoxicity and reproductive disturbance were also detected in female and male mussels. Moreover, a larger number of SDMs were found in male mussels (120 SDMs) than females (99 SDMs), and 60 common metabolites exhibited consistent variation tendency and similar magnitude in both sexes. The metabolic alternations in female and male mussels displayed similar protective mechanisms and also sex-specific responses, male mussels were more sensitive to TP exposure. This research provided new data about the molecular mechanisms of TP toxicity and the gender specific changes in mussels after treated by chemicals.

Automated summary

Triazophos, a prevalent environmental pollutant in China, was found to exhibit neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, and reproductive toxicity to mussels. By examining the metabolic changes in the digestive glands of Perna viridis of different sexes treated with 35 μg/L TP, it was discovered that TP significantly disturbed lipid metabolism and affected neurotoxicity and reproductive disturbance in both female and male mussels. Moreover, male mussels were shown to be more sensitive to TP exposure compared to females. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of TP toxicity and gender specific responses in mussels after chemical treatment.