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Updated: May 21, 2026

Determination of Total Lipid and Lipid Classes in Marine Samples
Published on: December 11, 2021
Vitellogenin and lipovitellin from the prawn Macrobrachium borellii as hydrocarbon pollution biomarker
C Fernando García1, Horacio Heras
1Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata-INIBIOLP, CONICET-CCT La Plata-Universidad Nacional de La Plata-UNLP, La Plata, Argentina.
Abstract:
During reproduction vitellogenin (VTG) is transported to vitellogenic oocytes as a precursor of egg yolk lipovitellin (LV). As VTG synthesis is affected by environmental stressors, it is widely used as biomarker in endocrine disruption studies. However, it has seldom been employed to evaluate invertebrate hydrocarbon pollution. An ELISA with anti-LV antibody was developed to evaluate the impact of water-soluble fraction of crude oil (WSF) on Macrobrachium borellii vitellogenesis. Prawn VTG concentration was within the range reported for other crustaceans; LV values were positively correlated with gonadosomatic index (GSI). Females at different vitellogenic stages were exposed to a sub-lethal concentration of WSF for 7 days. Exposed animals with GSI>7 increased their VTG and LV titer as compared to control organisms (190% and 140%, respectively). VTG levels in M. borellii were upregulated and highly sensitive to WSF exposure. This assay could be employed as a biomarker for freshwater hydrocarbon pollution.
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