A Convenient Sublethal Assay of Alkylphenol and Organotin Compounds Using the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Abstract

The free-living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was adopted as a multicellular biosensor of biological toxicity from alkylphenols and organotin compounds. Alkylphenols were found to affect reproduction at lower doses than indicated by the acute toxicity assay. In particular, nonylphenol altered the reproduction rate of C. elegans at a dose 10-to 100-fold lower than the 50% lethal concentration (LC 50 ). A comparison of the number of viable worms and eggs suggested that alkylphenols and organotin compounds possess hatching toxicity. A 0.1 µM dose of organotin compounds caused a significant decrease, in the order of 20-50%, in reproduction of the worms, and an abnormal male: hermaphrodite ratio was observed. C. elegans therefore appears to represent a potent and sensitive organism with which to evaluate the biological effects of chemicals. In particular, the sensitivity of reproduction as an endpoint is highly useful for assessing the sublethal effects of chemicals.

A Multi-Generation Sublethal Assay of Phenols Using the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

“…16) In the present study, in all exposed groups also occasionally individuals exhibited an abnormality in the vulva (Fig. 4).…”

“…Accordingly, we have established several laboratory-scale bioassay systems to evaluate the impact of various chemicals on C. elegans. [15][16][17][18] Nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BisA) are known to bind estrogen receptors. Yamakoshi et al reported previously that 4-(1-adamantyl) phenol (AdP) and 4,4′-(1,3-adamantanediyl) diphenol (AdDP) exhibited potent estrogenic activity.…”

Endocrine disruption in nematodes: effects and mechanisms

“…A study with the estrogenic compound 4-nonylphenol also showed a concentration-dependent stimulation of reproduction and growth in C. elegans, with first effects at 0.2 and 0.3 lM, respectively (Hö ss et al 2002). Tominaga et al (2002) also found effects of alkylphenols on the reproduction of C. elegans, however, nonylphenol and octylphenol significantly reduced nematode reproduction at concentrations of 0.02-2.0 lM. For the freeliving nematode Cephalobus sp.…”

Estrogenic effects along the river saale

“…The presence of estrogen receptors or binding proteins was demonstrated in the free-living nematode species Panagrellus redivivus and Caenorhabditis elegans by Hood et al [38]. An assay with C. elegans was developed for the detection of sublethal effects caused by alkylphenols and organotin compounds [39]. Alkylphenols were found to affect reproduction at low doses.…”

“…Alkylphenols were found to affect reproduction at low doses. The technical mixture of 4-isononylphenols decreased the reproduction rate of C. elegans at a concentration of 2.0 mM [39]. Höss et al [40] showed that the structure of nematode communities in freshwater microcosms was altered in the presence of the technical mixture of 4-iso-nonylphenols.…”