Biomarcadores em Callinectes danae (Crustacea, Decapoda, Portunoidea) para monitoramento ambiental em áreas portuárias na ilha do Maranhão, Brasil

Abstract

In the present study, the objective was to compare biochemical and histological biomarkers in Callinectes danae specimens collected in an area near the port facilities of São Luís-MA, and a reference area located in the municipality of Raposa (MA). The specimens were collected quarterly during the year 2017. The biometrics data used in the statistical analysis were: Width of Carapace - LC; Carapace Width with Thorn - LCe; Carapace Length – CC; Length of Right Quelipod – CQD; and Weight - P. The hepatopancreas were homogenized in phosphate buffer and centrifuged, and the supernatant was used to determine the enzymatic activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT). The gills were dehydrated in a growing series of alcohols and embedded in paraffin. In light microscopy, the alterations were identified and quantified. The results of the biometric analyzes indicated that the siris of the reference area are larger than the siris of the port area. Regarding the gill injury, a greater amount of alterations were found in the specimens of the port area. The GST activity in the crabs from the reference area presented high values in most of the collection periods; already in the port area the activity of the GST in the crabs was null in all the collections, indicating an exhausted enzymatic system. The CAT activity was null in the second and final collection of the port area, while in the reference area the greatest activity was in the second collection of the rainy season. Biometric data and biomarkers results (biochemical and histological) indicate that the crabs of the port area are suffering stress from impacts caused by xenobiotic substances.