Chemical fate and biological effects of several endocrine disrupters compounds in two echinoderm species

Abstract

Two echinoderm species, the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and the feather star Antedon mediterranea, were exposed for 28 days to several EDCs: three putative androgenic compounds, triphenyltin (TPT), fenarimol (FEN), methyltestosterone (MET), and two putative antiandrogenic compounds, p,p'-DDE (DDE) and cyproterone acetate (CPA). The exposure nominal concentrations were from 10 to 3000 ng L(-1), depending on the compound. This paper is an attempt to join three different aspects coming from our ecotoxicological tests: (1) the chemical behaviour inside the experimental system; (2) the measured toxicological endpoints; (3) the biochemical responses, to which the measured endpoints may depend. The chemical fate of the different compounds was enquired by a modelling approach throughout the application of the 'Aquarium model'. An estimation of the day-to-day concentration levels in water and biota were obtained together with the amount assumed each day by each animal (uptake in microg animal(-1) d(-1) or ng g-wet weight(-1) d(-1)). The toxicological endpoints investigated deal with the reproductive potential (gonad maturation stage, gonad index and oocyte diameter) and with the regenerative potential (growth and histology). Almost all the compounds exerted some kind of effect at the tested concentrations, however TPT was the most effective in altering both reproductive and regenerative parameters (also at the concentration of few ng L(-1)). The biochemical analyses of testosterone (T) and 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) also showed the ability of the selected compounds to significantly alter endogenous steroid concentrations.

Nervous system characterization during the development of a basal echinoderm, the feather star Antedon mediterranea

“…Thus, in the present study, we characterized the nervous system of doliolaria and pentacrinoid stages of the feather star Antedon mediterranea , a species endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. This comatulid has been highly exploited in regeneration studies (Candia Carnevali & Bonasoro, ; Candia Carnevali et al, ; Di Benedetto et al, ; Sugni et al, ) whereas its development has received less attention. After spawning, females of A. mediterranea keep the embryos attached to their genital pinnules until, 3–4 days post fertilization, the swimming doliolariae hatch.…”

Assessment of heavy metals concentration in holothurians, sediments and water samples from coastal areas of Pakistan (Northern Arabian Sea)

“…Matranga et al [28] pointed out that echinoderms are considered qua liable animals to detect permanent marine ecological stress and a long-term biological impact. They are proved in many studies [29][30][31][32][33] as ideal subjects for ecotoxicological studies because they are directly exposed to emerging anthropogenic pollutants in both their planktonic and benthic lives.…”

Diatom-derived oxylipins induce cell death in sea urchin embryos activating caspase-8 and caspase 3/7

“…The transparent embryo enables easy observation of malformation, making it possible to detect sub-lethal effects of pollutants on multicellular body formation at an early stage in development. To date, the stressors that have been examined using the sea urchin as a model include physico-chemical changes in the water, such as acidic pH (Dupont et al, 2010), hypoxia (Kodama et al, 2010), UV Schröder et al, 2005;Bonaventura et al, 2005Bonaventura et al, , 2006Lister et al, 2010aLister et al, , 2010bRusso et al, 2010), X-rays Bonaventura et al, 2011), and chemicals such as antifouling agents/pesticides (Garaventa et al, 2010;Aluigi et al, 2010), endocrine disruptors (Sugni et al, 2010;Horiguchi et al, 2010) and metals (Pinsino et al, 2014;Kiyomoto et al, 2010). Natural toxins represent a major source of stress for marine organisms.…”