The brains of bats foraging at wastewater treatment works accumulate arsenic, and have low non-enzymatic antioxidant capacities

摘要: Increasing rates of urbanisation cause ubiquitous infrastructures that remove anthropogenic contaminants - particularly Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs) to become stressed, and hence pollute surrounding water systems. Neoromicia nana bats are suitable models study the effects pollution in these environments because they exploit abundant pollutant-tolerant chironomid midges breed at WWTWs, consequently accumulate metals such as iron, copper zinc their livers kidneys. If persist circulatory systems, cross blood brain barrier (BBB) can have adverse on critical functions flight echolocation. The aim this was investigate potential neurological N. foraging WWTWs versus reference sites Durban, South Africa. Our objectives were 1) compare trace metal levels hair samples (as a proxy for circulating metals) between determine if excess pass through BBB via system; 2) biomarkers neuron function (acetylcholinesterase activity), protection (antioxidant capacity), DNA integrity (DNA fragmentation), lipid (lipid peroxidation) cell viability (caspase-3 activity) WWTW sites. We found significantly higher concentration arsenic (p < 0.05) tissue 0.1) compared By contrast, acetylcholinesterase activity did not differ among there no evidence significant differences peroxidation, compromised or apoptosis brains site bats. However, total antioxidant capacity lower than suggesting may be compromised. Long-term exposure environmental pollutants therefore affect cellular processes mechanisms It also other mitochondrial efficiency neurotransmitters but remains tested.