Acute exposure to glufosinate-ammonium (GLA )induces hepatopancreas toxicity in juvenile Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

Glufosinate-ammonium (GLA) is a widely used organophosphorus herbicide, which is easily accumulated in the water environment and poses a potential threat to non-target aquatic species due to its strong water solubility and non-degradable properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the toxic effects of acute GLA exposure on the hepatopancreas of juvenile Chinese mitten crabs. The results showed that the 96-hour semi-lethal concentration of glufosinate-ammonium on juvenile Chinese mitten crabs was 386.61 mg/L. Therefore, in the acute toxicity test, glufosinate-ammonium exposure treatment of 0, 38.66, 77.32 and 193.31 mg/L was set for 96 h, respectively. The results showed that the hepatopancreas had histological lesions, abnormal enlargement of the lumen of the hepatopancreas, and the star-shaped structure disappeared and vacuoles were produced under GLA exposure. The results of the comet experiment showed that the DNA damage of hepatopancreatic cells was obvious. The activity of ALT and AST in serum was significantly increased and had a concentration-dependent effect. TUNEL analysis showed that the apoptosis rate of juvenile crab hepatopancreatic cells in the GLA exposure group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and it was concentration-dependent, and the expression of apoptosis-related genes showed a similar trend. In addition, compared with the control group, GLA exposure led to a significant increase in MDA content in the hepatopancreas of juvenile crabs, which subsequently activated the antioxidant system and detoxification system of juvenile crabs, and significantly increased the activity of related enzymes and gene expression. Transcriptome analysis showed that the toxic effects of GLA exposure on juvenile crabs may mainly involve physiological pathways such as energy metabolism, protein synthesis and nervous system function. In summary, acute GLA exposure can lead to hepatopancreatic toxicity in juvenile crabs, which is mainly manifested in histopathological changes, apoptosis, and DNA damage, and mitigates toxic effects by activating antioxidant and detoxification systems. At the same time, GLA exposure may pose a potential toxic threat to the hepatopancreatic metabolism and nervous system through multiple physiological pathways. The results of the study can help provide new insights into the toxic effects and risk assessment of herbicides on non-target organisms.