Mercury (Hg) is a non-essential metal that can have toxic effects on the fitness of organisms and tends to bioaccumulate with age and to biomagnify in higher trophic levels. Few studies have assessed oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in deep-water sharks. This study evaluated early ontogenetic changes and physiological effects (antioxidant defences, oxidative damage, aerobic metabolism and neurotransmission functions) of Hg accumulation in the white muscle and brain tissues of the velvet belly lantern shark Etmopterus spinax from the southern Iberian coast (NE Atlantic). Results suggested that the low mercury concentrations observed may induce acute effects in E. spinax before they reach sexual maturity. We found different Hg concentrations in E. spinax: [Hg] males > [Hg] females; [Hg] muscle > [Hg] brain. Females appeared to have higher redox capability translated into higher activities and levels of antioxidant defences than males. However, higher levels of oxidative damage were also observed in females. Whilst the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unknown, these results suggest differences in mercury accumulation between tissues and sex, and potentially deleterious effects on oxidative stress status and neurophysiology of E. spinax, potentially impairing swimming performance and reproduction, which could subsequently impact on the health of both individuals and population.

汞 (Hg) 是一种非必需金属，它会对生物体的健康产生毒性影响，并且会随着年龄的增长而生物积累，并在更高的营养水平上进行生物放大。很少有研究评估深水鲨鱼的氧化应激和神经毒性。本研究评估了来自伊比利亚南部海岸（东北大西洋）的天鹅绒腹部灯笼鲨Etmopterus spinax的白色肌肉和脑组织中汞积累的早期个体发育变化和生理效应（抗氧化防御、氧化损伤、有氧代谢和神经传递功能）。结果表明，观察到的低汞浓度可能会在菠菜达到性成熟之前对其产生急性影响。我们在E. spinax中发现了不同的 Hg 浓度：[Hg] 男性 > [Hg] 女性；[汞] 肌肉 > [汞] 大脑。与男性相比，女性似乎具有更高的氧化还原能力，从而转化为更高的活性和抗氧化防御水平。然而，在女性中也观察到更高水平的氧化损伤。虽然这些影响背后的机制仍然未知，但这些结果表明组织和性别之间汞积累的差异，以及对菠菜的氧化应激状态和神经生理学的潜在有害影响，可能损害游泳性能和繁殖，进而影响健康个人和人口。