Thiamethoxam induced hepatic energy changes in silver catfish via impairment of the phosphoryl transfer network pathway: Toxicological effects on energetics homeostasis

•Thiamethoxam caused impairment of energy homeostasis in liver tissue•Thiamethoxam inhibits hepatic adenylate kinase and pyruvate kinase activities•Thiamethoxam exposure decreased adenosine triphosphate availability•Impairment on energy homeostasis may contribute to the toxic effects caused by thiamethoxam Precise coupling of spatially separated intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-producing and ATP-consuming processes exerts a pivotal role in bioenergetic homeostasis of living organisms, and the phosphotransfer network pathway, catalyzed by adenylate kinase (AK) and pyruvate kinase (PK), is fundamental in cellular and tissue energetic homeostasis. Measurement of the phosphotransfer network can provide new information for understanding the alterations in hepatic energetic metabolism during exposition to insecticides, such as thiamethoxam. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether exposition to thiamethoxam negatively affects the hepatic enzymes of the phosphotransfer network in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen). Hepatic AK and PK activities were inhibited at 3.75 μg L−1 after 24 h of exposure and at 1.125 and 3.75 μg L−1 after 96 h of exposure compared with the control group. The hepatic ATP levels were decreased following 3.75 μg L−1 thiamethoxam treatment after 24 h of exposure and at 1.125 and 3.75 μg L−1 after 96 h of exposure compared with the control group. The enzymatic activity of the phosphotransfer network and ATP levels did not recover after 48 h of recovery in clean water. Thus, the inhibition of hepatic AK and PK activities by thiamethoxam caused impairment of energy homeostasis in liver tissue, decreasing hepatic ATP availability. Moreover, the absence of a mutual compensatory mechanism between these enzymes directly contributes to ATP depletion and to a severe energetic dysregulation, which may contribute to toxic effects caused by thiamethoxam.