Uva Photoinduction of Pyrene Leads to Biochemical Damages in Hemocytes of the Crab Neohelice Granulata

The present work aimed to characterize the hemocyte profile and the photodynamic action of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pyrene associated with UVA radiation on the oxidative and morphological status of the hemolymph cells of the crab N. granulata. The cells were morphologically characterized by hematoxylin and eosin (HE), Schiff's Periodic Acid and Toluidine Blue staining in optic microscopy, and also in electron microscopy, besides identifying the hemocyte population profile by flow cytometric analysis. Experimental groups were gavaged with the following solutions: Control (saline + DMSO); Pyrene (0.6 mM pyrene), UVA control (saline + DMSO + 4.2 J / cm2 UVA), Pyrene + UVA (0.6 mM pyrene and after irradiated with 4.2 J/cm2 UVA), Photoinduced control (saline + DMSO irradiated with UVA before gavage) and Photoinduced pyrene (0.6 mM pyrene irradiated with UVA before gavage). Pyrene effects were assessed by analysis of cell viability, hemocyte population profile, reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals (ACAP), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and catalase activity. Morphological characterization revealed four hemocyte types: hyaline, semi-granular, granular hemocytes and undifferentiated cells. Exposure to pyrene caused an increase in ROS concentration, Pyrene + UVA showed a decrease in ACAP levels, and the group exposed to photoinduced Pyrene showed an increase in ROS production, catalase activity and LPO levels. Therefore, the crab N. granulata present an hemocyte profile similar to other decapod crustaceans. In addition, pyrene presents an oxidative effect on the hemocytes of this species, and this effect was more pronounced after photoinduction by UVA radiation.