Exposure to benzo[α]pyrene causes oxidative stress and cell damage in bay scallop Argopecten irradians

In the present study, bay scallop antioxidant response to acute exposure to the benzo[alpha]pyrene (BaP; a type of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) was investigated. Scallops were exposed to doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mu g/L (low-dose group) and 10 and 50 mu g/L (high-dose group) for 72 h. The following oxidative stress indicators were measured in the digestive diverticula tissues or hemolymph: superoxide dismutase, catalase, hydrogen peroxide, and lipid peroxidation. The apoptotic response in the high dose group was assessed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The stress indicators in each group increased significantly with time, except in the 0.5 mu g/L group. The TUNEL assay revealed that more apoptotic cells were detected after exposure to BaP over time. These results suggest that exposure to BaP induces oxidative stress and causes tissue damage in bivalves. These findings also revealed that high concentrations of BaP exposure can have potential adverse effects (apoptosis and cell damage) in bivalves. Additionally, these results might shed some new light on the ecotoxicological effects of BaP on marine bivalves.

Automated summary

This study investigated the antioxidant response of bay scallops to acute exposure to benzo[alpha]pyrene, a type of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. The results showed that exposure to benzo[alpha]pyrene induced oxidative stress and tissue damage in bivalves, with high concentrations leading to apoptosis and cell damage. These findings suggest potential adverse effects of benzo[alpha]pyrene on marine bivalves and provide insights into its ecotoxicological effects.