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8666531 
Journal Article 
Abstract 
Are Damsels in Distress? Combined effects of chlorpyrifos and temperature stress on the tropical damselfish Acanthochromis polyacanthus from the Great Barrier Reef (Australia) 
Botte, E; Negri, A; King, SC; Gagliano, M; Smith-Keune, C; Jerry, D 
2010 
Yes 
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part A: Molecular and Integrative Physiology
ISSN: 1095-6433
EISSN: 1531-4332 
157 
Supplement 1 
S16 
English 
WOS:000281747500038 
Tropical reefs are facing multiple stressors worldwide. Along the Northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR) of Australia, seasonal floods due to heavy rains induce terrestrial run off, potentially spreading agricultural chemicals into the GBR inshore reefs. Meanwhile episodes of high temperature have become more frequent on the GBR the last fifteen years.

With this in mind, we measured the impact of exposure to the organophosphate chlorpyrifos (CPF) and of temperature stress, separately and in combination, on juveniles of the damselfish Acanthochromis polyacanthus from the Indo-Pacific. We assessed the muscle cholinesterase (ChE) activity, hepatic glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity, coenzyme Q (CoQ) redox balance and gene expression.

We found that GST was not affected by any of the treatments. However, exposure to 10 μg/L of CPF induced a 50% inhibition of ChE activity after 96 h and an increase in the antioxidant form of CoQ after 6 h. Temperature increases of 4 °C and 6 °C compared to control (28 °C) decreased ChE activity by 50% after 96 h but did not affect CoQ redox balance. Combining both temperature and CPF exposure did not induce additive or synergistic effects on the stress indicators investigated.

Our results suggest that A. polyacanthus is quickly reacting to CPF exposure and might be well armed against temperature-induced oxidative stress. The strong impairment of ChE with both stressors suggests potential damages on the nervous system of the fish. Further analyses involving gene expression should deepen our understanding of A. polyacanthus defence mechanism against physical and chemical stress. 
27th Congress of the newEuropean Society of Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 
Alessandria, Italy 
September 5-9, 2010