The Ascidian Ciona Intestinalis as Model Organism for Ecotoxicological Bioassays

Gallo, Alessandra; Tosti, Elisabetta

doi:10.4172/2155-9910.1000e138

Cited by 26 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…In this study, we investigated BPA effects on fertilization and embryonic development of the ascidian species C. robusta , adding new important data about this pollutant. Due to their phylogenetic position (Delsuc et al, ) and their ecology, ascidians represent a valuable model in ecotoxicology and particularly provide precious information about pollutant impact on chordate nervous system development (Gallo & Tosti, ; Zega et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Considering BPA presence in marine environment and the scant data available on its interaction with nervous system development, in this study, we evaluated the effects of BPA exposure on the ascidian Ciona robusta . Ascidians were showed to be a reliable model organism for ecotoxicology bioassays due to their phylogenetic position, being sister group of vertebrates (Delsuc, Brinkmann, Chourrout, & Philippe, ; Putnam et al, ), their wide distribution in marine ecosystems and their ecology (Gallo & Tosti, ; Zega, Pennati, Candiani, Pestarino, & De Bernardi, ). Ciona sessile adults develop through a swimming larva that presents all the main features of chordate body plan, comprising a hollow neural tube lying dorsal to a rod‐like notochord (Passamaneck & Di Gregorio, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bisphenol A affects neural development of the ascidian Ciona robusta

2018

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Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic pollutant derived from plastic degradation that has numerous and variable adverse effects on human health and wildlife. In particular, it has been reported that BPA can alter reproductive processes and nervous system development in vertebrates. Considering BPA presence in marine environment and the scant data available on its interaction with nervous system development, we analyzed the effect of BPA exposure on sperm viability, fertilization, embryogenesis, and neural differentiation of the ascidian Ciona robusta. Ascidians are members of the Phylum Tunicata, the sister group of Vertebrata, sharing with them fundamental developmental processes. Our results showed that first cell division was altered starting from 5 µM concentration. Lethal concentration (LC ) was estimated to be 5.2 µM. Larvae developed from treated embryos showed specific malformations to the pigment cells even at 0.1 µM, corresponding to the highest environmental concentration reported so far. Moreover, GABAergic and dopaminergic neurons proved to be target organs of BPA teratogenic action, in accordance with similar results reported in vertebrate animal models. Overall, our results suggest that BPA can exert its effects on nervous system acting on different pathways and underline that C. robusta is a valuable invertebrate animal model for preliminary screenings of effects of pollutants on vertebrates.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bisphenol A affects neural development of the ascidian Ciona robusta

2018

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“…Ascidians are marine invertebrates, characterized by filter‐feeding sessile adults and swimming lecithotrophic larvae, which display the typical chordate body plan. They have been confirmed as reliable model organisms for ecotoxicological bioassays because of their manipulable and rapid embryonic development, and high production of gametes (Gallo & Tosti, ; Zega, Pennati, Candiani, Pestarino, & De Bernardi, ). Moreover, they offer valuable advantages for exploring the molecular mechanisms behind the action of pollutants because of their phylogenetic position and their small genome (Passamaneck & Di Gregorio, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of bisphenol A on the development of pigmented organs in the ascidian Phallusia mammillata

Messinetti

Mercurio

Pennati

2018

Invertebrate Biology

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Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic compound that is used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins and is increasingly being released into the environment. BPA can act as a teratogenic substance and an endocrine disruptor, raising concerns about its impact on humans and wildlife. Thus, in the present work, we evaluated the effects of different concentrations of BPA on ontogenetic processes in the ascidian Phallusia mammillata. The phylogenetic position of ascidians, their cosmopolitan distribution in marine ecosystems, and multiple technical advantages associated with their biology make ascidians reliable model organisms for ecotoxicology bioassays. Our investigations showed that BPA did not affect the capability of ascidian sperm to fertilize eggs, but it impaired embryonic development and caused a phenotype that was characterized by a short and kinked tail. Larvae developed from BPA-exposed embryos also presented malformations of pigmented organs such as altered pigment deposition, absence of one or both pigmented organs, and supernumerary organs. The co-exposure with 4-hydroxytamoxifen, an estrogen-related receptor (ERR) inverse agonist, rescued the normal phenotype of pigmented organs, thus supporting the hypothesis that, in ascidians, BPA exerts its teratogenic effects mainly by binding to ERR, as in vertebrate models. K E Y W O R D Snervous system, ocellus, otolith, rescue of function, tunicate

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“…Ascidians are highly efficient filter-feeding organisms, able to accumulate and concentrate harmful toxicants when present even at low concentrations in their surroundings (Jiang et al, 2010;Treberg et al, 2012). Ascidians actively accumulate HMs, including manganese, iron, cadmium, magnesium, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, chromium, titanium, and vanadium (Odate and Pawlik, 2007;Gallo and Tosti, 2015;Aydın-Önen, 2016). There have been a number of studies in recent years on ascidians as bio-indicators, using different measurements and indices (physiological, molecular, reproductive) the results of which demonstrate the potential of this group to function as a useful bio-indicator of contamination in the marine environment (Bellas et al, 2004;Radhalakshmi et al, 2014;Aydın-Önen, 2016;Bellante et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential Use of Invasive Ascidians for Biomonitoring Heavy Metal Pollution

et al. 2019

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Heavy metal (HM) inputs into marine environments and their effect on marine organisms are of major concern. Here, we examined the potential use of two invasive ascidian species, Phallusia nigra and Microcosmus exasperatus, as bio-indicators of 11 HMs in the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts of Israel. Individuals were collected on a seasonal basis from three sites over 1 year, and analysis was carried out separately for the tunic and the body. Both species accumulated high levels of HMs, which varied seasonally and spatially. In M. exasperatus the majority of HMs were found in the tunic, and in P. nigra in the body, suggesting the need to analyze total individuals in future studies. Hepato-Somatic Index values for M. exasperatus were significantly lower at the polluted site. Investigation of a popular public beach revealed high levels of certain dissolved HMs in both the water and in the ascidians. The wide geographic distribution and high filtration capacity of invasive ascidians offer great potential for their use in monitoring metal pollution in marine environments.

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The Ascidian Ciona Intestinalis as Model Organism for Ecotoxicological Bioassays

Cited by 26 publications

References 26 publications

Bisphenol A affects neural development of the ascidian Ciona robusta

Bisphenol A affects neural development of the ascidian Ciona robusta

Effects of bisphenol A on the development of pigmented organs in the ascidian Phallusia mammillata

The Potential Use of Invasive Ascidians for Biomonitoring Heavy Metal Pollution

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