Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/17606
Title: Non-avoidance behaviour in enchytraeids to boric acid is related to the GABAergic mechanism
Author: Bicho, Rita C.
Gomes, Susana I. L.
Soares, Amadeu M. V. M.
Amorim, Mónica J. B.
Keywords: Mechanismof response
Soil invertebrates
Avoidance behaviour
Neurotransmitter targets
Enchytraeids
Boric acid
Issue Date: 2015
Publisher: Springer
Abstract: Soil invertebrates, e.g. enchytraeids, are known to be able to avoid unfavourable conditions, which gives them an important ecological advantage. These organisms possess chemoreceptors that can detect stressors, which in turn activate responses such as avoidance behaviour. We studied the avoidance behaviour in response to boric acid (BA) using enchytraeids. Results showed not only no avoidance, but that increasing concentrations seemed to have an “attraction” effect. To study the underlying mechanism, a selection of genes targeting for neurotransmission pathways (acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABAr)) were quantified via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Evidences were that BA is neurotoxic via the GABAergic system mechanism where it acts as a GABA-associated protein receptor (GABAAR) antagonist possibly causing anaesthetic effects. This is the first time that (non)avoidance behaviour in invertebrates was studied in relation with the GABAergic system.We strongly recommend the combination of such gene and/or functional assay studies with the avoidance behaviour test as it can bring many advantages and important interpretation lines for ecotoxicity with minor effort.
Peer review: yes
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/17606
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3921-5
ISSN: 0944-1344
Appears in Collections:CESAM - Artigos
DBio - Artigos

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
art%3A10.1007%2Fs11356-014-3921-5.pdf239.92 kBAdobe PDFrestrictedAccess


FacebookTwitterLinkedIn
Formato BibTex MendeleyEndnote Degois 

Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.