Biomarkers of the cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling pathways in Arctic beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): relationship to methylmercury and selenium
There are increasing concerns about potential neurotoxicity of chronic methylmercury (MeHg) exposure in Arctic wildlife and human populations. The relationships between mercury (Hg), MeHg, inorganic Hg (iHg), and selenium (Se) exposure, and neurochemical and molecular biomarkers in beluga whales (De...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:b58cc8b184334cca8e7df29b2733753e 2023-05-15T14:23:36+02:00 Biomarkers of the cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling pathways in Arctic beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): relationship to methylmercury and selenium Sonja K. Ostertag Hing Man Chan 2018-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0033 https://doaj.org/article/b58cc8b184334cca8e7df29b2733753e EN FR eng fre Canadian Science Publishing https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0033 https://doaj.org/toc/2368-7460 doi:10.1139/as-2017-0033 2368-7460 https://doaj.org/article/b58cc8b184334cca8e7df29b2733753e Arctic Science, Vol 4, Iss 3, Pp 405-420 (2018) mercury biomarker neurochemical neurotoxicity inuit Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 article 2018 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0033 2022-12-31T05:57:32Z There are increasing concerns about potential neurotoxicity of chronic methylmercury (MeHg) exposure in Arctic wildlife and human populations. The relationships between mercury (Hg), MeHg, inorganic Hg (iHg), and selenium (Se) exposure, and neurochemical and molecular biomarkers in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas, 1776)) were characterized. Samples were collected in 2008 (n = 20) and 2010 (n = 15) in the Canadian Arctic from hunter-harvested beluga whales. Total Hg concentrations in the temporal cortex and cerebellum were 21.0 ± 22.6 mg kg−1 dry weight (dw) and 14.9 ± 18.9 mg kg−1 dw, respectively. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was predicted by MeHg and the molar ratio of total Hg to Se (Hg:Se, p < 0.05); MAO-A mRNA transcription levels were predicted by iHg and Se (p < 0.05). Muscarinic AChR binding was predicted by MeHg (p < 0.05) and Hg:Se molar ratio (p < 0.05), and mRNA transcription levels of mAChR m1 was predicted by the Hg:Se molar ratio (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling pathway in Eastern Beaufort Sea beluga whales may be sensitive to MeHg exposure. The response of beluga whales to MeHg exposure at a physiological and population level remains to be elucidated. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Beaufort Sea Beluga Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas inuit Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Arctic Science 1 16 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English French |
topic |
mercury biomarker neurochemical neurotoxicity inuit Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 |
spellingShingle |
mercury biomarker neurochemical neurotoxicity inuit Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 Sonja K. Ostertag Hing Man Chan Biomarkers of the cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling pathways in Arctic beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): relationship to methylmercury and selenium |
topic_facet |
mercury biomarker neurochemical neurotoxicity inuit Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 |
description |
There are increasing concerns about potential neurotoxicity of chronic methylmercury (MeHg) exposure in Arctic wildlife and human populations. The relationships between mercury (Hg), MeHg, inorganic Hg (iHg), and selenium (Se) exposure, and neurochemical and molecular biomarkers in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas, 1776)) were characterized. Samples were collected in 2008 (n = 20) and 2010 (n = 15) in the Canadian Arctic from hunter-harvested beluga whales. Total Hg concentrations in the temporal cortex and cerebellum were 21.0 ± 22.6 mg kg−1 dry weight (dw) and 14.9 ± 18.9 mg kg−1 dw, respectively. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was predicted by MeHg and the molar ratio of total Hg to Se (Hg:Se, p < 0.05); MAO-A mRNA transcription levels were predicted by iHg and Se (p < 0.05). Muscarinic AChR binding was predicted by MeHg (p < 0.05) and Hg:Se molar ratio (p < 0.05), and mRNA transcription levels of mAChR m1 was predicted by the Hg:Se molar ratio (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling pathway in Eastern Beaufort Sea beluga whales may be sensitive to MeHg exposure. The response of beluga whales to MeHg exposure at a physiological and population level remains to be elucidated. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Sonja K. Ostertag Hing Man Chan |
author_facet |
Sonja K. Ostertag Hing Man Chan |
author_sort |
Sonja K. Ostertag |
title |
Biomarkers of the cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling pathways in Arctic beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): relationship to methylmercury and selenium |
title_short |
Biomarkers of the cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling pathways in Arctic beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): relationship to methylmercury and selenium |
title_full |
Biomarkers of the cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling pathways in Arctic beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): relationship to methylmercury and selenium |
title_fullStr |
Biomarkers of the cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling pathways in Arctic beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): relationship to methylmercury and selenium |
title_full_unstemmed |
Biomarkers of the cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling pathways in Arctic beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): relationship to methylmercury and selenium |
title_sort |
biomarkers of the cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling pathways in arctic beluga whales (delphinapterus leucas): relationship to methylmercury and selenium |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0033 https://doaj.org/article/b58cc8b184334cca8e7df29b2733753e |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Beaufort Sea Beluga Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas inuit |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Beaufort Sea Beluga Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas inuit |
op_source |
Arctic Science, Vol 4, Iss 3, Pp 405-420 (2018) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0033 https://doaj.org/toc/2368-7460 doi:10.1139/as-2017-0033 2368-7460 https://doaj.org/article/b58cc8b184334cca8e7df29b2733753e |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0033 |
container_title |
Arctic Science |
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1 |
op_container_end_page |
16 |
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1766296111141617664 |