Toxicological effects of waterborne Zn on the proximal and distal intestines of large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea.

The aim of the present study was to compare the differences of Zn-induced antioxidant defense, immunotoxicity and Zn homeostasis between the proximal and distal intestines of the large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea. Fish were exposed to Zn (2 and 10 mg L) for 96 h. In the proximal intestine, high-concentration Zn increased mortality and oxidative damage, but reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonylation (PC) levels were not affected by low-concentration Zn, indicating Zn-induced oxidative damage was concentration-dependent. Antioxidant defense and immunotoxicity in response to Zn exposure may be involved in ROS/ NFE2-related nuclear factor 2 (Nrf2) and ROS/nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways. In the distal intestine, Zn exposures did not induce oxidative damage, which may result from the improvement of Zn transport, antioxidant and immune defenses. Nrf2 was positively correlated with antioxidant-related gene in the distal intestine, but no relationship was observed between Nrf2 and CAT gene expressions in the proximal intestine. In conclusion, Zn induced toxicological effects were intestinal-region-dependent, which provided some novel insights into Zn toxicology.