Review: Morphofunctional and biochemical markers of stress in sea urchin life stages exposed to engineered nanoparticles

Abstract

We describe the use of different life stages of the Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus for the assessment of the possible risk posed by nanoparticles (NPs) in the coastal water. A first screening for the presence of NPs in sea water may be obtained by checking their presence inside tissues of organisms taken from the wild. The ability of NPs to pass from gut to the coelomic fluid is demonstrated by accumulation in sea urchin coelomocytes; the toxicity on sperms can be measured by embryotoxicity markers after sperm exposure, whereas the transfer through the food chain can be observed by developmental anomalies in larvae fed with microalgae exposed to NPs. The most used spermiotoxicity and embryotoxicity tests are described, as well as the biochemical and histochemical analyses of cholinesterase (ChE) activities, which are used to verify toxicity parameters such as inflammation, neurotoxicity, and interference in cell-to-cell communication. Morphological markers of toxicity, in particular skeletal anomalies, are described and classified. In addition, NPs may impair viability of the immune cells of adult specimens. Molecular similarity between echinoderm and human immune cells is shown and discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1552-1562, 2016.

Cadmium stress effects indicating marine pollution in different species of sea urchin employed as environmental bioindicators

“…Exposure of P. lividus and Arbacia lixula sea urchins to heavy rare earth elements affected embryogenesis, fertilization, cytogenetic, and redox endpoints (Oral et al 2017). Other studies focused on the fate, behavior, and effects of nanomaterials (NMs) in the marine environment, showing their toxicity for sea urchin embryos at different larval stages (Fairbairn et al 2011;Burić et al 2015;Gambardella et al 2016;Kanold et al 2016;Torres-Duarte et al 2016).…”

The Sea Urchin Embryo: A Model for Studying Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Human Diseases and for Testing Bioactive Compounds

“…Reports describing the toxic effects of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, insecticides, pesticides, and other environmental contaminants on sea urchin embryos and adults have been recently published [112,[139][140][141][142][143]. Investigators in marine research have paid particular attention to the fast growth of submicroscopic materials contaminating marine and coastal ecosystems and have analyzed biochemical and histochemical markers of toxicity, taking advantage of the sensitivity of sea urchin gametes, embryos, and adult cells [144]. Recently, researchers have developed new computation methods and a new toxicity index, integrating the frequency of abnormal embryos obtained after treatment with marine waters and sediments with the adverse effects observed during development.…”

Toxicity of Carbon, Silicon, and Metal-Based Nanoparticles to Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius

“…The reproductive, developmental, and embryotoxicity of NPs represent a particular area of interest to scientists in the area of nanotoxicology [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Prior studies have shown that echinoderms, and especially sea urchins, represent one of the most suitable models in the assessment of reproductive, developmental, and embryotic toxicity of NPs in the aquatic environment [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Sea urchins have been described as a key species of marine benthic communities attached to hard bottoms, with habitats ranging from a few centimeters deep to 20 or more meters [ 30 ].…”

“…Sea urchins have been described as a key species of marine benthic communities attached to hard bottoms, with habitats ranging from a few centimeters deep to 20 or more meters [ 30 ]. Sea urchin, and general echinoderm, fertilization takes place outside the maternal body [ 27 ]. Embryos and larvae of sea urchins can swim in the water column and represent good food for other organisms [ 27 ].…”

“…Sea urchin, and general echinoderm, fertilization takes place outside the maternal body [ 27 ]. Embryos and larvae of sea urchins can swim in the water column and represent good food for other organisms [ 27 ].…”