Exposure to Dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6) Affects the Antioxidant Response and Gene Expression of Procambarus clarkii

Abstract

Dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6) is widely used daily in the chemical industry and exists in the environment; however, its eco-toxicity is not well documented. A hydroponic experiment was performed to investigate the effects of D6 exposure (10–1000 mg L−1) on oxidative stress induction and gene expression changes in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). The results showed that superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was enhanced by 20–32% at low D6 exposure (10 mg L−1) in muscle but reduced in gill tissue at high D6 exposure (1000 mg L−1). High D6 (1000 mg L−1) also increased catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities in muscle tissue by 14–37% and 14–45%, respectively, and the same trend was observed in the carapace and gill tissue of crayfish. The Malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbate (AsA), and glutathione (GSH) contents were increased by 16–31%, 19–31%, and 21–28% in the muscle of crayfish under D6 exposure. Additionally, silicon (Si) content increased in three organs (gill, carapace, and muscle) of crayfish. Related genes involved in enzyme and nonenzyme activities were detected, and when crayfish was exposed to D6, genes such as Sod3, Cat3, Pod3, and Gsh3 were up-regulated, while Asa3 and Oxido3 were significantly down-regulated in the muscle. The research results help us to understand the toxicity of D6 in crayfish and provide a basis for further research on the mechanism of D6-induced stress in crayfish and other aquatic organisms.