“Test Tube Cetaceans”: From the Evaluation of Susceptibility to the Study of Genotoxic Effects of Different Environmental Contaminants Using Cetacean Fibroblast Cell Cultures

Marsili, Letizia; Maltese, S.; Coppola, Daniele; Caliani, Ilaria; Carletti, Laura; Giannetti, Matteo; Campani, Tommaso; Baini, Matteo; Panti, Cristina; Casini, Silvia; Fossi, Maria Cristina

doi:10.5772/54429

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…OC compounds should have an inductive action on CYP2B because most of them are globular, but in this study they also showed the capacity to induce CYP1A1. In reality, even if pp′DDE and pp′DDT are known as CYP2B inducers (Nims and Lubet, ; You et al ., ), the fibroblast cell culture of sperm whale (PM6) treated only with pp′DDT and pp′DDE, showed a capacity of these compounds to induce also the CYP1A1 (Marsili et al ., ). Thus this in vitro technique appears a very powerful tool to assess susceptibility of sperm whales to different environmental contaminants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Ecotoxicological status of seven sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) stranded along the Adriatic coast of Southern Italy

Marsili

Maltese

Coppola

et al. 2014

Aquatic Conservation

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1. In December 2009 seven male sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) stranded along the Adriatic coast of Southern Italy. Genetic and photo-identiﬁcation data indicated that these specimens belonged to the Mediterranean Sea population. 2. Complete necropsies were performed on the three best preserved animals. Blubber and muscle samples were collected from all seven specimens for contaminants analysis (DDTs, PCBs and PAHs) and biomarker responses (CYP1A1 and CYP2B) were evaluated from the three better preserved animals using western blot analysis. 3. Fibroblast cell cultures from two specimens were set up by culturing cell lines from integument tissue, to explore the susceptibility of these marine mammals to different xenobiotic compounds. 4. The levels of CYP1A1 and CYP2B, proteins that are induced by some POPs (DDTs and PCBs) and PAHs were detected using the indirect immunoﬂuorescence assay. The results showed relatively high levels of contaminants, in particular from organochlorine xenobiotics, and strong responses of CYP1A1 and CYP2B reﬂecting toxicological stress of these sperm whales. 5. This is not considered to be their cause of death, but may have contributed to lowering the defences of their immune system

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Ecotoxicological status of seven sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) stranded along the Adriatic coast of Southern Italy

Marsili

Maltese

Coppola

et al. 2014

Aquatic Conservation

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“…This provides optimal chances of following the susceptibility and effects of an increasing array of stressors, including genotoxicity and immuno-suppression caused by contaminants and debris in the marine environment (Fossi et al, 2000(Fossi et al, , 2003Fossi & Marsili, 2011;Marsili et al, 2012).…”

Section: Effective Conservation Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To improve the effectiveness of conservation measures, monitoring the status of D. delphis , through non‐destructive and non‐invasive collection and investigation methods using skin biopsies and faecal and DNA samples from free‐ranging animals, is increasingly possible. This provides optimal chances of following the susceptibility and effects of an increasing array of stressors, including genotoxicity and immuno‐suppression caused by contaminants and debris in the marine environment (Fossi et al, 2000, 2003; Fossi & Marsili, 2011; Marsili et al, 2012).…”

Section: Conservation Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

The conservation of the endangered Mediterranean common dolphin (Delphinus delphis): Current knowledge and research priorities

Vella

Murphy

Giménez

et al. 2021

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Preservation of endangered species is now recognized as a relevant component of regional and global conservation actions achieved through the maintenance of the remaining populations in a favourable conservation status. The Mediterranean common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) is listed as an Endangered subpopulation in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, with declining numbers in some of the areas where it has been studied for numerous years. Prey depletion, fisheries bycatch, pollution, health risks, and climate change are among the recognized threats that the species is facing in the region.2. The existing national, regional, and international legislation pertinent to Mediterranean countries should aid greater science-policy-management integration and support innovative research and monitoring towards effective conservation. The challenges inherent in studying the pelagic D. delphis should not preclude the use of long-term, year-round, multiplatform surveys, side by side with the latest molecular tools, which aid our understanding of its populations' genetic diversity, resistance to diseases, and resilience in a semi-enclosed fast-changing sea.3. Addressing the multiplicity of problems confronting the species requires collaborative effort at all levels to share and merge resources, data, and expertise more efficiently. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on the Mediterranean common dolphin, the main threats, and knowledge gaps that are priorities for addressing its conservation, while providing clear recommendations for effectively safeguarding the species and its habitat at both local and regional levels.

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“…The “Toxicology in the 21st Century (Tox21)” program, proposed by the U.S. National Research Council, encouraged the establishment of in vitro test methods as an alternative for animal experiments. Fossi et al. , and Marsili et al , developed in vitro methods to evaluate cytochrome P450 induction by POPs exposure in the fibroblasts of several cetacean species. Over the past few years, toxicological research using cetacean fibroblasts has attracted attention, as summarized in review articles on culturing methods and applications of the cells. , These studies have demonstrated that cultured cells derived from biopsy specimens are valuable tools for assessing the toxic effects and risks of environmental chemicals on cetaceans.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Risk Assessments of Environmental Pollutants Using Fibroblasts of a Stranded Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis)

Ochiai

Kurihara

Hirano

et al. 2020

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Cetaceans accumulate high levels of environmental pollutants, yet their toxicological studies have been difficult due to technical and ethical issues. It is essential to identify and fill the current knowledge gaps in the in vitro assays available for cetaceans. The present study establishes a novel in vitro assay that uses the fibroblasts of a finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) (FF) stranded in the Seto Inland Sea (SIS) to answer questions about the cytotoxicity and risks of environmental pollutants. FF were treated with 17 compounds including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and their metabolites (DDTs) and evaluated for cytotoxicity, viability, and apoptosis. The results of FF were compared with those of human fibroblasts (HF). The relative potencies of the test compounds were comparable between the two species, as EC50 of these compounds significantly correlated for FF and HF. Exposure-activity ratios (EARs) revealed that accumulation of PCBs and DDTs are likely to pose adverse effects at the cellular level in the SIS finless porpoises, as their tissue concentrations exceeded EC50 values obtained in this study. This study successfully evaluated the risks of environmental pollutants using cetacean fibroblasts isolated by a non-invasive method that may be applied to various cetacean species and compounds.

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“Test Tube Cetaceans”: From the Evaluation of Susceptibility to the Study of Genotoxic Effects of Different Environmental Contaminants Using Cetacean Fibroblast Cell Cultures

Cited by 8 publications

References 47 publications

Ecotoxicological status of seven sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) stranded along the Adriatic coast of Southern Italy

Ecotoxicological status of seven sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) stranded along the Adriatic coast of Southern Italy

The conservation of the endangered Mediterranean common dolphin (Delphinus delphis): Current knowledge and research priorities

In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Risk Assessments of Environmental Pollutants Using Fibroblasts of a Stranded Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis)

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