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In the context of new oil exploration/production areas, knowledge of the biological impact of dispersed oil in the deep-sea environment is essential. Hence, the aim of this study was to perform a comparison, at atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa) and at a high hydrostatic pressure corresponding to 1000 m depth (10.1 MPa), of lethal concentrations (LC) on a model fish, Scophthalmus maximus, exposed to chemically dispersed oil. Fish were exposed concomitantly at 0.1 and 10.1 MPa using two exposure tanks connected to the same source tank thanks to a closed circuit. Acute toxicity was evaluated at 24 h through the determination of LC10 and LC50 (respectively, 10 and 50% of mortality) calculated from measured total petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in the water. No statistical differences were observed between the LC10 at 0.1 MPa (46.1 mg L− 1) and the LC10 at 10.1 MPa (31.0 mg L− 1), whereas the LC50 of fish exposed to 0.1 MPa (90.8 mg L− 1) was significantly higher than the LC50 at 10.1 MPa (50.9 mg L− 1). These results clearly show an increase in oil toxicity under high hydrostatic pressure. This effect may be due to synergistic effects of pressure and oil contamination on fish energetic metabolism.

Decompression sickness (DCS) is a complex and poorly understood systemic disease with wide inter-individual resistance variability. We selectively bred rats with a 3-fold greater resistance to DCS than standard ones. To investigate possible physiological mechanisms underlying the resistance to DCS, including sex-related differences in these mechanisms, 15 males and 15 females resistant to DCS were compared with aged-matched standard Wistar males (n=15) and females (n=15). None of these individuals had been previously exposed to hyperbaric treatment. Comparison of the allelic frequencies of SNPs showed a difference of one SNP located on the X chromosome. Compared with non-resistant rats, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and the plasmatic activity of coagulation Factor X were significantly higher in DCS-resistant individuals regardless of their sex. The maximal relaxation elicited by sodium nitroprusside was lower in DCS-resistant individuals regardless of their sex. Males but not females resistant to DCS exhibited higher neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, higher prothrombin time whereas lower mitochondrial basal O2 consumption and citrate synthase activity. Principal Components Analysis showed that two principal components discriminate the DCS-resistant males but not females from the non-resistant ones. These components were loaded with aPTT, MLR, PT, FX, Fib, for PC1, and ARBC and ANC for PC2. In conclusion, the mechanisms which drive the resistance to DCS appear different between males and females; lower coagulation tendency and enhanced inflammatory response to decompression stress might be key for resistance in males. The involvement of these physiological adaptations in resistance to DCS must now be confirmed., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Silvering, the last metamorphosis in the eel life cycle induces morphological and physiological modifications in yellow eels (sedentary stage). It pre-adapts them to cope with the extreme conditions they will encounter during their 6000-km spawning migration. A previous study showed that silver eels are able to cope with reactive oxygen species (ROS) over-production linked to an increase in aerobic metabolism during sustained swimming, but the question remains as to whether this mechanism is associated with silvering. A sustained swimming session decreased red muscle in vitro mitochondrial oxygen consumption (MO 2 ) but increased ROS production in both eel stages. The swimming exercise used here was perhaps too intense to induce a stimulation of mitochondrial function or biogenesis even when antioxidant enzyme activities were unchanged. Pro-oxidant/antioxidant imbalance by lipid peroxidation increased in yellow but significantly decreased in silver eels. The silvering process therefore appears to allow a pre-adaptation of red muscle radical metabolism to the demands of spawning migration.

Human diving is known to induce endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to decipher the mechanism of ROS production during diving through the measure of mitochondrial calcium concentration, peroxynitrite, NO°, and superoxide towards better understanding of dive-induced endothelial dysfunction. Air diving simulation using bovine arterial endothelial cells (compression rate 101 kPa/min to 808 kPa, time at depth 45 min) was performed in a system allowing real-time fluorescent measurement. During compression, the cells showed increased mitochondrial superoxide, peroxynitrite, and mitochondrial calcium, and decreased NO° concentration. MnTBAP (peroxynitrite scavenger) suppressed superoxide, recovered NO° production and promoted stronger calcium influx. Superoxide and peroxynitrite were inhibited by L-NIO (eNOS inhibitor), but were further increased by spermine-NONOate (NO° donor). L-NIO induced stronger calcium influx than spermine-NONOate or simple diving. The superoxide and peroxynitrite were also inhibited by ruthenium red (blocker of mitochondrial Ca

Data on the biological impact of oil dispersion in deep-sea environment are scarce. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential interest of a pressure challenge as a new experimental approach for the assessment of consequences of chemically dispersed oil, followed by a high hydrostatic pressure challenge. This work was conducted on a model fish: juvenile Dicentrarchus labrax. Seabass were exposed for 48 h to dispersant alone (nominal concentration (NC) = 4 mg L-1), mechanically dispersed oil (NC = 80 mg L-1), two chemically dispersed types of oil (NC = 50 and 80 mg L-1 with a dispersant/oil ratio of 1/20), or kept in clean seawater. Fish were then exposed for 30 min at a simulated depth of 1350 m, corresponding to pressure of 136 absolute atmospheres (ATA). The probability of fish exhibiting normal activity after the pressure challenge significantly increased from 0.40 to 0.55 when they were exposed to the dispersant but decreased to 0.26 and 0.11 in the case of chemical dispersion of oil (at 50 and 80 mg L-1, respectively). The chemical dispersion at 80 mg L-1 also induced an increase in probability of death after the pressure challenge (from 0.08 to 0.26). This study clearly demonstrates the ability of a pressure challenge test to give evidence of the effects of a contaminant on the capacity of fish to face hydrostatic pressure. It opens new perspectives on the analysis of the biological impact of chemical dispersion of oil at depth, especially on marine species performing vertical migrations.

Introduction Decompression sickness (DCS) is a complex and poorly understood systemic disease caused by inadequate desaturation after a decrease of ambient pressure. Strong variability between individuals is observed for DCS occurrence. This raises questions concerning factors that may be involved in the interindividual variability of DCS occurrence. This study aimed to experimentally assess the existence of heritable factors involved in DCS occurrence by selectively breeding individuals resistant to DCS from a population stock of Wistar rats. Methods Fifty-two male and 52 female Wistar rats were submitted to a simulated air dive known to reliably induce about 63% DCS: compression was performed at 100 kPa·min up to 1000 kPa absolute pressure before a 45-min long stay. Decompression was performed at 100 kPa·min with three decompression stops: 5 min at 200 kPa, 5 min at 160 kPa, and 10 min at 130 kPa. Animals were observed for 1 h to detect DCS symptoms. Individuals without DCS were selected and bred to create a new generation, subsequently subjected to the same hyperbaric protocol. This procedure was repeated up to the third generation of rats. Results As reported previously, this diving profile induced 67% of DCS, and 33% asymptomatic animals in the founding population. DCS/asymptomatic ratio was not initially different between sexes, although males were heavier than females. In three generations, the outcome of the dive significantly changed from 33% to 67% asymptomatic rats, for both sexes. Interestingly, survival in females increased sooner than in males. Conclusions This study offers evidence suggesting the inheritance of DCS resistance. Future research will focus on genetic and physiological comparisons between the initial strain and the new resistant population.

Studies conducted in divers indicate that endothelium function is impaired following a dive even without decompression sickness (DCS). Our previous experiment conducted on rat isolated vessels showed no differences in endothelium-dependent vasodilation after a simulated dive even in the presence of DCS, while contractile response to phenylephrine was progressively impaired with increased decompression stress. This study aimed to further investigate the effect of DCS on vascular smooth muscle. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were submitted to the same hyperbaric protocol and classified according to the severity of DCS: no-DCS (without clinical symptoms), mild-DCS, or severe-DCS (dead within 1 h). A control group remained at atmospheric pressure. Isometric tension was measured in rings of abdominal aorta and mesenteric arteries. Single dose contraction was assessed with KCl solution. Dose-response curves were obtained with phenylephrine and endothelin-1. Phenylephrine-induced contraction was observed in the presence of antioxidant tempol. Additionally, plasma concentrations of angiotensin II, angiotensin-converting enzyme, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were assessed. Response to phenylephrine was impaired only among mild-DCS in both vessels. Dose-response curves to endothelin-1 were impaired after mild-DCS in mesenteric and severe-DCS in aorta. KCl-induced contraction was affected after hyperbaric exposure regardless of DCS status in aorta only. These results confirm postdive vascular dysfunction is dependent on the type of vessel. It further evidenced that vascular dysfunction is triggered by DCS rather than by diving itself and suggest the influence of circulating factor/s. Diving-induced impairment of the L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+channels and/or influence of renin-angiotensin system is proposed.

International audience; Mitochondrion is the main production site for reactive oxygen species (ROS). In endotherms, the existence of a positive relationship between ROS production and metabolic rate is acknowledged. But, little is known about ectotherms, especially fish, with a metabolic rate dependent on the environmental temperature. The maximal oxygen consumption and the production of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals by permeabilized red muscles of yellow and silver eels and trouts were measured concomitantly and compared to those of rats chosen for their comparable body mass, but different metabolic rate. The positive correlation found in fish between the metabolic rate and the ROS production showed a shift with respect to mammals.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is a well-known effect in individuals after an undersea dive. This study aimed to delineate the links between ROS, endothelial dysfunction, and decompression sickness (DCS) through the use of antioxidants in vitro and in vivo. The effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on superoxide and peroxynitrite, nitric oxide (NO) generation, and cell viability during in vitro diving simulation were analyzed. Also analyzed was the effect of vitamin C and NAC on plasma glutathione thiol and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, and angiotensin-II and DCS morbidity during in vivo diving simulation. During an in vitro diving simulation, vascular endothelial cells showed overproduction of superoxide and peroxynitrite, obvious attenuation of NO generation, and promotion of cell death, all of which were reversed by NAC treatment. After in vivo diving simulation, plasma ACE activity and angiotensin-II level were not affected. The plasma level of glutathione thiol was downregulated after the dive, which was attenuated partially by NAC treatment. Plasma TBARS level was upregulated; however, either NAC or vitamin C treatment failed to prevent DCS morbidity. During in vitro simulation, endothelial superoxide and peroxynitrite-mediated oxidative stress were involved in the attenuation of NO availability and cell death. This study is the first attempt to link oxidative stress and DCS occurrence, and the link could not be confirmed in vivo. Even in the presence of antioxidants, ROS and bubbles generated during diving and/or decompression might lead to embolic or biochemical stress and DCS. Diving-induced oxidative stress might not be the only trigger of DCS morbidity.

Literature highlights the involvement of disseminated thrombosis in the pathophysiology of decompression sickness (DCS). We examined the effect of several antithrombotic treatments targeting various pathways on DCS outcome: acetyl salicylate, prasugrel, abciximab, and enoxaparin. Rats were randomly assigned to six groups. Groups 1 and 2 were a control nondiving group (C; n = 10) and a control diving group (CD; n = 30). Animals in Groups 3 to 6 were treated before hyperbaric exposure (HBE) with either prasugrel ( n = 10), acetyl salicylate ( n = 10), enoxaparin ( n = 10), or abciximab ( n = 10). Blood samples were taken for platelet factor 4 (PF4), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and von Willebrand factor analysis. Onset of DCS symptoms and death were recorded during a 60-min observation period after HBE. Although we observed fewer outcomes of DCS in all treated groups compared with the CD, statistical significance was reached in abciximab only (20% vs. 73%, respectively, P = 0.007). We also observed significantly higher levels of plasmatic PF4 in abciximab (8.14 ± 1.40 ng/ml; P = 0.004) and enoxaparin groups (8.01 ± 0.80 ng/ml; P = 0.021) compared with the C group (6.45 ± 1.90 ng/ml) but not CD group (8.14 ± 1.40 ng/ml). Plasmatic levels of TBARS were significantly higher in the CD group than the C group (49.04 ± 11.20 μM vs. 34.44 ± 5.70 μM, P = 0.002). This effect was prevented by all treatments. Our results suggest that abciximab pretreatment, a powerful glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist, has a strong protective effect on decompression risk by significantly improving DCS outcome. Besides its powerful inhibitory action on platelet aggregation, we suggest that abciximab could also act through its effects on vascular function, oxidative stress, and/or inflammation.

Vascular bubble formation results from supersaturation during inadequate decompression contributes to endothelial injuries, which form the basis for the development of decompression sickness (DCS). Risk factors for DCS include increased age, weight–fat mass, decreased maximal oxygen uptake, chronic diseases, dehydration, and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Production of NO is often affected by diving and its expression–activity varies between the genders. Little is known about the influence of sex on the risk of DCS. To study this relationship we used an animal model of Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) to induce decreased NO production. Male and female rats with diverse ages and weights were divided into 2 groups: treated with l-NAME (in tap water; 0.05 mg·mL–1 for 7 days) and a control group. To control the distribution of nitrogen among tissues, 2 different compression–decompression protocols were used. Results showed that l-NAME was significantly associated with increased DCS in female rats (p = 0.039) only. Weight was significant for both sexes (p = 0.01). The protocol with the highest estimated tissue pressures in the slower compartments was 2.6 times more likely to produce DCS than the protocol with the highest estimated tissue pressures in faster compartments. The outcome of this study had significantly different susceptibility to DCS after l-NAME treatment between the sexes, while l-NAME per se had no effect on the likelihood of DCS. The analysis also showed that for the appearance of DCS, the most significant factors were type of protocol and weight.

International audience; : Several studies have demonstrated that endothelial function is impaired following a dive even without decompression sickness. During this study we determined the effect of decompression sickness on endothelium-dependent and independent vasoreactivity. For this purpose twenty-seven male Sprague-Dawley rats were submitted to a simulated dive up to 1 000 kPa absolute pressure and divided into 3 groups: safe diving without decompression sickness or dives provoking mild or severe sickness. A fourth control group remained at atmospheric pressure. Endothelium-dependent and independent vasomotion was assessed ex vivo by measuring isometric tension in rings of abdominal aorta and mesenteric arteries. Dose-response curves were obtained with phenylephrine, acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was measured in the presence of L-NAME, indometacin or both of them at once.Contraction was significantly decreased after each protocol compared with the control rats. Additionally, the response in animals from the severe group was significantly different from that of the safe and mild groups. Dose response curves for acetylcholine alone and in the presence of inhibitors remained unchanged. We did not observe differences in endothelium-dependent vasodilation after diving or in the presence of decompression sickness. Contractile response to phenylephrine was progressively impaired with increased decompression stress. These results may indicate smooth muscle injury.

International audience; In order to have a general view of metabolic requirements during swimming, in vitro aerobic and anaerobic fluxes were measured in red and white muscles from silver eels and yellow eels which differ in activity levels and nutritional states. These measurements were performed in control eels and after a 4 day swimming session (70% U(crit) in yellow eels, 80% U(crit) in silver eels). A swimming session significantly increases U(crit) from 12% to 18%, depending on the stage, with a significantly higher in vitro energy cost during the yellow stage at the muscle level. In vitro, the swimming session brings about a gain in anaerobic capacities rather than in aerobic ones. Some in vivo hypotheses are proposed.

International audience; This paper deals with the effects of exercise training on oxygen consumption (MO(2)) and ROS metabolism in the red muscle of trained and untrained female silver eels. Their critical swimming speed (U(crit)) was determined before and after a 4-day training (10h of swimming at 70% of U(crit) and 14 h at 50%, every day). The U(crit) of trained eels increased significantly (by about 7%). The in vitro MO(2) and ROS production by the red fibres were higher (not significant) in trained than in untrained eels, but the ROS production/MO(2) ratio was alike in both groups. The antioxidant-enzyme activities and lipoperoxidation index in trained eels were both lower than those of the untrained ones. These biochemical changes related to the increase in U(crit) suggest that such a training session could maintained or even increased aerobic power of the red muscle without deleterious impact by ROS. These regulations could play a role in the eel's swimming performance efficiency.

International audience; To reproduce, European eels must undergo a long migration without feeding. During this migration they have to cope with many environmental factor changes, one of them being hydrostatic pressure. We focus on the effects of hydrostatic pressure on swimming energetics: does the pressure exposure modify swimming efficiency? By using a specially designed Blazka type swimming tunnel able to work under pressure, we have measured oxygen consumption of migrating male silver eels at different swimming speeds (from 0.2 to 1.0 BL/s) first at atmospheric pressure then at 101 ATA hydrostatic pressure. The results show that pressure increases the energetic swimming efficiency by decreasing oxygen consumption for a given swimming speed. Such a pressure effect could represent a remarkable adaptation enabling eels to spare their energy stores and swim for a long time.

International audience; During their migration for reproduction, European eels have to cope with many environmental factors changes. The main changes concern hydrostatic pressure and temperature that are important environmental and physiological factors when considering life in the deep sea. We focus on the consequences of pressure (from 0.1 to 12.1MPa by 1MPa steps) and temperature (9, 15, 22 degrees C) shifts on the oxygen consumption (MO(2)) at the whole animal level. Because of their morphological differences, we are also interested in males and females to evaluate the best conditions for migration. Firstly, whatever temperature, males present higher aerobic capacities than females at atmospheric pressure. Secondly, an increase in temperature increases the pressure effects in males (synergy) but decreases them in females (opposite effects). We raise the hypothesis that two different migration strategies could be used in the water column in order to reach the breeding area: males could tend to privilege pressure and cold waters (deep water) and females, on the other hand, could opt for warmer temperature surface waters.