Effects of nonylphenol on cholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities in male guppies (Poecilia reticulata)

Compared to the estrogenic effects of 4-nonylphenol (NP), there is little data available on other potential toxic effects of NP in aquatic animals. The effects of NP on cholinesterase (ChE) and carboxylesterase (CbE) activities of male guppies exposed to 10, 60,150, or 300 mu g L-1 NP were examined after 1, 2, 4, and 7 days of treatment. A significant muscle ChE inhibition, that used acetylthiocholine iodide as a substrate, was noted in male guppies in all NP treatment groups after a 4-day exposure, and 60 and 150 mu g L-1 of NP treatment groups after a 7-day exposure. All guppies exposed to 300 mu gL(-1) NP died during the 7-day treatment. However, there was no significant inhibition of muscle ChE that used butyrylthiocholine iodide as a substrate in male guppies for any NP treatments in different exposure times. There were no CbE activity differences in livers of male guppies among NP treatment groups after different exposure times. This is the first report showing the ChE activity inhibition by NP in fish. Further mechanistic studies are needed to define how NP directly or indirectly alters ChE activities at molecular level. The implication of ChE inhibition of NP on potential impacts of aquatic animals also warrants further research. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.