Gonadal lesions of female sea urchin (Psammechinus miliaris) after exposure to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon phenanthrene

Sex-specific biochemical and histological differences in gonads of sea urchins (Psammechinus miliaris) and their response to phenanthrene exposure

“…Nevertheless, even 500 mg L À1 phenanthrene did not accelerate lipofuscin deposition in ovaries of the sea urchin P. miliaris (Schäfer and Köhler, 2009). The second histopathological parameter, fibrosis, is often described to occur in reproductive tissues of fish after exposure to environmental contaminants (Dietrich et al, 2009).…”

“…Histopathological biomarkers in gonads can help to understand the mode of action of chemicals on processes related to reproduction (Au et al, 2001;Dietrich et al, 2009). In a recent study, severe histopathological alterations were observed in gonads of female Psammechinus miliaris following exposure to phenanthrene (Schäfer and Köhler, 2009), a low molecular weight, 3-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), and a major component of total PAH compounds in marine waters (Law et al, 1997). PAHs are lipophilic organic compounds and widespread in the marine environment.…”

“…They are considered hazardous substances by several European and regional directives aiming at protecting aquatic environments from anthropogenic impact (HELCOM, 2009;OSPAR, 2007;European Commission, 2008). Following exposure to 500 mg phenanthrene L À1 for 20 days, disorganisation of the gonadal structure, fibrosis, aggregates of degenerating oocytes, as well as high numbers of atretic oocytes were found in female sea urchins (Schäfer and Köhler, 2009). However, background concentrations of PAHs in seawater amount to only maximally 10.7 mg L À1 total PAHs (Law et al, 1997) and thus range at least 50-times lower than the test concentration in our previous study.…”

“…The second histopathological parameter, fibrosis, is often described to occur in reproductive tissues of fish after exposure to environmental contaminants (Dietrich et al, 2009). Fibrosis involves augmentation of collagen and more massive appearance of the connective tissue (Dietrich et al, 2009), and phenanthrene exposure increases fibrosis in sea urchin gonads (Schäfer and Köhler, 2009). Another histopathological parameter, easy to record in females, is the percentage of atretic oocytes in the ovaries.…”

“…Another histopathological parameter, easy to record in females, is the percentage of atretic oocytes in the ovaries. Atresia is a degenerative and resorptive process of oocytes which may become pathologic after chemical exposure (Blazer, 2002;Dietrich et al, 2009;Schäfer and Köhler, 2009).…”