Acute cadmium exposure induced intestinal barrier damage in the hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♂ × Epinephelus lanceolatus♀)

作者：Hongming Wang, Wenting Tu, Fengwu Jia, Yue Zheng, Qing Yang, Yong Feng, Asare Derrick, Beiping Tan, Lili Shi, Shuang Zhang · 发表于：Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119975 · 研究领域：Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology、Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity、Chromium effects and bioremediation

Cadmium (Cd), a widespread aquatic pollutant, induces dose-dependent gill epithelial damage in hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × Epinephelus lanceolatus). However, the toxicological mechanisms underlying its effects on intestinal mucosal barrier function remain unclear. This study examined intestinal mucosal barrier injury in hybrid grouper exposed to three Cd concentrations: 0 mg/L (control, CON), 0.0363 mg/L (Cd1%), and 0.363 mg/L (Cd10%). Cd exposure significantly inhibited intestinal trypsin and lipase activities compared with the control group. In addition, Cd exposure reduced villus height and muscularis propria thickness, disrupted tight junction structures, and induced mitochondrial vacuolization. Cd exposure also significantly downregulated the expression of occludin1, ZO-1, and claudin7a. Compared to the control group, the Cd10% group showed fewer intestinal goblet cells, accompanied by mitochondrial calcium deposition. Analysis of the intestinal microbiota revealed that Cd exposure significantly decreased the diversity of the intestinal microbiota. Specifically, compared with the control group, Cd exposure significantly increased the relative abundance of Pseudomonadota, while concurrently decreasing the relative abundances of Bacteroidota and Bacillota. Additionally, Cd exposure reduced Prevotellaceae (including Prevotella ruminicola) but increased Vibrionaceae (particularly Vibrio and V. vulnificus CMCP6). Functional prediction analysis revealed that Cd...