Modulação da neurotransmissão colinérgica como resposta aos efeitos causados pela exposição ao nanocomposto de carbono fulereno c60 utilizando zebrafish (danio rerio) como modelo de estudo

Abstract

Nanocomposites derived from carbon atoms have been the focus of interest in various industrial fields such as electronic engineering, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, food packaging and other, since its discovery in 1985. Fullerene C60 is a nanocomposite with 60 carbon atoms, which has been the subject of numerous studies for its ability to store atoms in the interior and accept various structural modifications. The importance of understanding all the possible effects of exposure to fullerenes is very great, since its production and its use is growing every day increasing environmental exposure to this compound. The cholinergic system has as its main neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). The acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC3.1.1.7) is an important regulatory enzyme that controls the transmission of nerve impulses across cholinergic synapses by hydrolysis of the ACh. AChE levels are controlled by the interaction of ACh with its receptors, and when the interaction is enhanced, the levels of AChE are increased. Therefore, AChE can be used as a marker of cholinergic function. In this study our goal was to determine whether intraperitoneal injections of fullerene C60 at the doses of 7.5, 15 and 30 mg/kg and the time of 6h, 12h and 24h of exposure would cause a change in the modulation of the cholinergic system. We observed that the dose of 30 mg/kg in the exposure time of 24 hours showed a 84% increase in enzyme activity compared with the vehicle control group. These results suggest a possible neurotoxic effect. Further studies should be conducted to extend these findings.