Impact of 17β-estradiol on the freshwater mussel Unio ravoisieri: From behavioral and biochemical changes to histological damage

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> 17β-estradiol is an endocrine disruptor that could induce alterations, behavioral, biochemical, and histopathological in aquatic fauna. In this context, we tested the effect of this xenohormone on the freshwater mussel <italic>Unio ravoisieri</italic> . Some biomarker’s activities (oxidative stress biomarkers: MDA, CAT, and neurotoxicity biomarker: AChE) were measured in the gills and the digestive gland after treatment with three concentrations of 17β-estradiol concentrations (C1 = 1 µg.L ^{− 1} , C2 = 10 µg.L ^{− 1} , C3 = 100 µg.L ^{− 1} ) for 7 days. Our results showed that 17β-estradiol did not significantly modify the water filtration rate in <italic>Unio ravoisieri</italic> , but it generated a significant increase in CAT and AChE activities of, and the level of MDA in the gills and in the digestive glands of treated mussels. This contaminant causes histopathological changes in both organs, marked by a dose-dependent alteration in the various tissues. Our study was conducted to assess the effect of an endocrine disruptor on a sentinel species, <italic>Unio ravoisieri</italic> , using an integrative approach combining behavioral, biochemical, and histological approaches. It provides a consistent contribution to the database concerning this type of widespread contaminant, especially in wastewater effluents emitted in freshwater ecosystems.