Effects of the human antiepileptic drug carbamazepine on the behavior, biomarkers, and heat shock proteins in the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea

• The siphoning behavior of the clam was inhibited by CBZ.
• CBZ exposure induced oxidative effects to the clam.
• The expressions of five heat shock proteins genes were altered by CBZ.
• The protein levels of Hsp70 were up-regulated by CBZ.

Carbamazepine (CBZ), an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing pharmaceutical, is a widespread contaminant in aquatic environments. In this study, the effects of chronic exposure to environmentally relevant CBZ concentrations were investigated in freshwater clams Corbicula fluminea. Adult C. fluminea were exposed to 0.5, 5, and 50 μg/L of CBZ for 30 days, after which siphoning behavior (filtration rates), biomarker levels, and heat shock protein expression were measured. The filtration rates were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) by 50 μg/L CBZ treatment, indicating a negative impact on C. fluminea health. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities were decreased, and catalase (CAT) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were increased in the gills and digestive gland, suggesting that CBZ induced an oxidative effect. The levels of Hsp22, Hsp40, and Hsp70 mRNAs were also markedly induced after 5 or 50 μg/L CBZ treatment (p < 0.05), whereas Hsp60 and Hsp90 mRNAs in gills and Hsp60 mRNA in digestive gland were significantly repressed (p < 0.05). Finally, the expression of Hsp70 protein was significantly increased (p < 0.05) by 5 and 50 μg/L exposure. In aggregate, these results confirm that environmentally relevant concentrations of CBZ can exert a negative effect on C. fluminea tissue at the molecular and protein level.