| Autor: |
de Farias NO; Laboratório de Genética Toxicológica, Departamento de Genética e Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil.; Faculdade de Tecnologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, UNICAMP, Limeira, São Paulo, Brasil.; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, IB - UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil., de Sousa Andrade T; Departamento de Engenharia Ambiental, Universidade Federal do Ceará, UFC, Crateús, Ceará, Brasil., Santos VL; Laboratório de Genética Toxicológica, Departamento de Genética e Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil., Galvino P; Laboratório de Genética Toxicológica, Departamento de Genética e Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil., Suares-Rocha P; Faculdade de Tecnologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, UNICAMP, Limeira, São Paulo, Brasil., Domingues I; Departamento de Biologia e CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal., Grisolia CK; Laboratório de Genética Toxicológica, Departamento de Genética e Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil., Oliveira R; Faculdade de Tecnologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, UNICAMP, Limeira, São Paulo, Brasil. |
| Abstrakt: |
Caffeine (CAF), a neuroactive compound, has been found in surface waters at concentrations ranging from few nanograms up to micrograms and may induce adverse effects in aquatic vertebrates. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of CAF in affecting fish early-life stages in a wide concentration range, including occurring levels in surface waters. Specimens of zebrafish in early-life stages were exposed to CAF for 168 h and survival, developmental alterations, locomotor activity and acetylcholinesterase activity were evaluated. CAF induced mortality in embryos unable to hatch or in larvae after hatching (LC 50 - 168 h = 283.2 mg/L). Tail deformities were observed in organisms exposed to concentrations ≥ 40 mg/L, while edemas were found at concentrations of 100 mg/L. CAF also decreased the total swimming time and distance moved of exposed organisms (LOEC = 0.0006 mg/L). Locomotor inhibition may be associated with an acetylcholinesterase inhibition observed at concentration ≥ 0.0088 mg/L. Therefore, the hazard of CAF for fish populations deserves further attention since unexpected effects on neuro-behavioral parameters occurs at concentrations often detected in natural aquatic ecosystems. |
