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ABSTRACT: Bisphenol-A(BPA), a known endocrine-disrupting chemical that is distributed world wide, is extensively employed in industry, dentistry and consumer household products. This study was conducted to explore the estrogenic effects of BA on the male freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium asperulum, by examining the daily survival rate, molting frequency, hepatosomatic index (HSI), and levels of vitellogenin-like protein. Results revealed that BPAcan elicitthe expression of vitellogenin-like protein (0.09 and 0.09 microg P x (mg protein))-1), respectively) in male organisms exposed to 0.1 and 1 ng l(-1) BPA at day 7. Moreover, prawns were perceived to be sensitive to estrogenic compounds. Hence, it can be concluded that M. asperulum can be used as a species for biomonitoring, and levels of vitellogenin-like protein in males are a useful biomarker for detecting estrogenic contaminations.
Journal of Environmental Biology 07/2012; 33(4):805-10. · 0.64 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Although toxic responses of freshwater planarians after exposure to environmental toxicants can be observed through external toxicological end points, physiological responses inside the bodies of treated planarians have rarely been investigated. The present study was designed, using cadmium (Cd) as a reference toxicant, to determine its bioaccumulation and toxicodynamics in the freshwater planarian, Dugesia japonica, after acute toxicity was obtained. Accumulated Cd concentrations, metallothionein levels, and the oxidative status in planarians were determined after exposure to Cd. Furthermore, we hypothesized that the acute death of Cd-treated planarians was associated with increased oxidative stress. After Cd-treated planarians were coexposed to antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), we found that NAC protected planarians from Cd lethality by maintaining the oxidative status and decreasing the bioaccumulation of Cd. The results of the present study support planarians being used as a practical model for toxicological studies of environmental contaminants in the future.
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 04/2012; 63(2):220-9. · 1.93 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Free-living freshwater planarians are considered to have the potential for development as an experimental model for toxicological studies on xenobiotics, including metals. However, little was known about the distribution patterns of metals in the body of treated planarians. This study was conducted to determine the tissue distribution patterns of cadmium (Cd) in different body portions of the treated planarian, Dugesia japonica. Results showed that Cd accumulated in the head of planarians at a significantly higher concentration than in the tail. After examining the level of metallothionein (MT), we suggested that the tissue distribution pattern of Cd might be related to MT induction patterns. In contrast, in planarians treated with copper (Cu), neither the tissue accumulation of Cu nor the multiples of induction of MTs significantly differed between different portions. Furthermore, a higher Cd accumulation rate in the head of planarians caused more-severe oxidative stress to appear in this portion and also a higher susceptibility to a lethal concentration of Cd. Finally, both in vitro and in vivo acetylcholinesterase activities in both body portions of planarians were inhibited by Cd. The present study provides the first report that different metals are distributed in various body portions with different patterns in the planarian.
Metallomics 09/2011; 3(12):1368-75. · 3.90 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, a globally important cultured prawn species, is an ideal animal for studying the impairment caused by the effects of heavy metals that are often detected in coastal areas. In this study, L. vannamei was exposed to different concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) for up to 28 d. Histopathological alterations in the hepatopancreas were observed in L. vannamei after long-term exposure to Cd and Zn. Hepatopancreatic injury was further confirmed by the inductions of two biochemical markers, hemolymphatic glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT). It was notable that L. vannamei was able to repair its hepatopancreas from the damage caused by Zn, which was evidenced by the results of the histopathological observations, determinations of tissue metal concentrations, and examination of GOT and GPT levels.
Chemosphere 10/2008; 73(7):1019-26. · 3.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of chlordane and lindane on reproduction obstacles and endocrine disruption in female green neon shrimp (Neocaridina denticulata). Individuals of N. denticulata, a common inhabitant of freshwater systems in Taiwan, was exposed to different levels of chlordane (1 and 10 ngl(-1)) and lindane (0.1 and 1 microgl(-1)). The reproductive ability and reproductive hormone levels were observed after exposure. According to our findings, an increase in estrogen, induction of a vitellogenin-like protein, and changes in reproductive performance were observed in both chlordane- and lindane-treated shrimp. Thus, it was concluded that chlordane and lindane may cause some reproduction obstacles and disruption of endocrine functions in N. denticulata.
Chemosphere 07/2006; 64(1):11-6. · 3.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A herpes-like virus is demonstrated for the first time to be associated with high mortality rates in maricultured abalone Haliotis diversicolor supertexta in Taiwan. Histopathology of moribund abalone indicated that the nerve system was the primary target tissue. The lesions were characterised by tissue necrosis accompanied with infiltration of haemocytes. Electron microscopic examination demonstrated viral particles within the degenerated cerebral ganglion cells. The viruses were hexagonal, approximately 100 nm in diameter and had a single coat. Some viral particles contained a dense nucleoid, while others were empty. The ultrastructure and morphogenesis of the virus particles were consistent with those of the herpesvirus described from the oyster Crassostrea virginica. Experimental infection using supernatant collected from minced visceral organs and muscle of moribund abalone induced 100 % mortality through both intramuscular injection and bath treatments.
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 07/2005; 65(1):23-7. · 2.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: White shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, a globally important cultured prawn species, is an ideal animal for studying the impairment caused by the effects of heavy metals that are often detected in coastal areas. The main purpose of the present study was to detect the acute toxicity of Cd and Zn to L. vannamei, and to investigate their effects on gill functions, which have not been carried out in this species before, hoping to obtain some important significance. First of all, we examined the acute toxicity of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) to L. vannamei and obtained 24-, 48-, 72-, and 96-h medium lethal concentration (LC50) values of 2.58, 1.30, 1.14, and 1.07 mgCd l(-1) and 3.98, 2.14, 1.75, and 1.35 mgZn l(-1), respectively. Furthermore, we also found that exposure of shrimp to Cd or Zn caused an inhibition in oxygen consumption of 91.3% and 75.9% lower than that of the control. However, after separate exposure to Cd or Zn, elevations in ammonium excretion were obtained, which were 153.7% and 144.1%, respectively, higher than the control. It is most likely that elevations in ammonium excretion were related to decreased osmotic pressure of shrimp blood. Finally, the distribution of Cd and Zn within gills was also determined.
Chemosphere 01/2005; 57(11):1591-8. · 3.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chlordane and lindane on morphological changes and endocrine disruption in male Green neon shrimp (Neocaridina denticulata). In this experiment, individuals of N. denticulata, a common inhabitant of freshwater systems in Taiwan, were exposed to chlordane (1 and 10 ng/l and lindane (0.1 and 1 microg/l morphological changes and reproductive hormone levels were observed following four weeks exposure. According to our findings, an increase in estrogen, a reduction in testosterone, and morphological alternations of the masculine appendage were observed in both chlordane- and lindane-treated shrimp, while induction of a vitellogenin-like protein appeared only in shrimp treated with 10 ng/l chlordane. An endocrine disruption effect on N. denticulata was demonstrated, and may apply to other organochlorine pesticides or endocrine disruption chemicals.
Chemosphere 01/2005; 57(11):1621-7. · 3.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Gallium (Ga) is one of the intermetallic elements that are increasingly being used in making high-speed semiconductors such as gallium arsenide. The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of gallium on acute toxicity, on serum biochemical variables as well as on erythrocyte morphological changes in the blood stream of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Median lethal concentrations were determined in acute tests. The 96-h LC50 value was 19.78 (18.49-21.16) mgl(-1). Common carp were exposed to different gallium concentrations (2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 mgl(-1)) for 28 days in laboratory toxicity tests. Means of the measured serum biochemistry parameters (including glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, cholesterol, and triglyceride) of these exposed groups significantly differed from those of the untreated group. Deformation of erythrocytes suggest disturbance of respiration as an additional indicator of Ga exposure. Our results suggest that 2.0 mgl(-1) is proposed as a biologically safe concentration which can be used for establishing tentative water quality criteria concerning of same size common carp. In addition, serum biochemical parameters as well as erythrocyte morphological changes are promising clinical diagnostic tools for assessing the effects of gallium compounds on common carp.
Chemosphere 01/2004; 53(8):877-82. · 3.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Jen-Lee Yang and Hon-Cheng Chen (2003) Serum metabolic enzyme activities and hepatocyte ultrastructure of common carp after gallium exposure. Zoological Studies 42(3): 455-461. Gallium (Ga) is one of the inter-metallic elements increasingly being used in making high-speed semiconductors such as gallium arsenide. The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of gallium on serum enzyme activities and on the ultrastructure of the liver in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Common carp were exposed to 3 different sub-lethal levels of gallium (2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 mg/l) in laboratory toxicity tests. During a 28-d testing period, serum metabolic enzyme activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was analyzed every 14 d. An increase of enzyme activity in serum was observed, particu-larly at the 2 highest exposure concentrations. Electron microscopy investigations revealed ultrastructural alter-ations in hepatocytes which were correlated with exposure concentrations and exposure time. Cytopathological effects included nuclei with irregular outlines and heterochromatin, fragmentation and vesicu-lation of endoplasmic reticula, and disruption of mitochondria. Moreover, proliferation of lysosomes with elec-tron-dense bodies and lipid inclusions were also found in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Our results indicate that changes in metabolic enzyme activities in serum occurred; this fact was confirmed by ultrastructural obser-vations during the exposure period. This study also emphasizes the importance of in vivo approaches to the assessment of relative compound effects and their potential hazards in aquatic animals. III-V compound semiconductors, such as GaAs and InGaAs, are important materials in the manufacture of optoelectronic devices and inte-grated circuits in the semiconductor industry (Robinson 1983, Fowler et al. 1993, Bustamante et al. 1997). Manufacturing processes devoted to the fabrication of GaAs-based semiconductor devices generate large volumes of wastes that contain the toxic metal arsenic as well as gallium. For example, aqueous waste streams can contain from 200 to 400 mg/l of each dissolved metal in the wet polishing process of gallium arsenide (Sturgill et al. 2000). However, gallium arsenide is not a listed hazardous waste under regulations in Taiwan, but is listed as hazardous in California, USA (Sturgill et al. 1999). The use of gallium compounds in semicon-ductor manufacturing was accompanied by increasing amount of toxic materials released as potential toxic wastes, which are harmful to health and the environment (Chelton et al. 1991, Sturgill et al. 2000). Gallium can interfere with calcium uptake; the element is a potent inhibitor of protein synthesis and the heme pathway enzyme, aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (Hoyes et al. 1992). Gallium also appears to inhibit DNA syn-thesis by action on ribonucleotide reductase (Riaz et al. 1995). Previous reports indicated that galli-um compounds might cause bone marrow depres-sion, testicular toxicity, and hemorrhagic nephritis in mammals (Webb et al. 1987, Aoki et al. 1990, Omura et al. 1996).
Zoological studies 01/2003; 42:455-461. · 0.98 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Gallium (Ga) is one of the intermetallic elements that are increasingly being used in making high-speed semiconductors such as gallium arsenide. The purposes of this study were to invest igate its acut e t oxicity and it s effects on serum biochemical variables as well as erythrocyte morphological changes in the bloodstream of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The 96-h median lethal concentration(LC 50)determined in acute tests was 19.78 (18.49-21. 16) mg/L. Based on this datum, common carp were exposed to different gallium concentrations (2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 mg/L) for 28 d in laboratory chronic tests. It was found that the means of the measured serum biochemistry p arameters (including glucose, blood urea nit rogen, creatinine, cholesterol, and triglyceride) of these exposed groups significantly differed from those of the untreat ed group. Deformation of eryt hrocy tes suggests that disturbance of respiration occur as an additional indicator of Ga exposure. Our results show that 2.0 mg/L could be proposed as a biologically safe concentration. Changes in both serum biochemical and erythrocyte morphological parameters can be considered promising clinical diagnostic tools for assessing the toxic effects of gallium compounds on common carp.
Acta Zoologica Taiwanica. 01/2002; 13:63-72.
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute toxicity of chlordane and lindane as well as their endocrine disruption effect on green neon shrimp (Neocaridina denticulata), a common habitant in freshwater system of eastern Asia and Hawaii. First, the organisms were exposed to chlordane and lindane to estimate the 96-h LC(50)(96-h median lethal concentration). Then, levels of testosterone and vitellogenin in hemolymph of N. denticulata after exposure to sublethal concentrations of chlordane (1 ng/L and 10 ng/L) and lindane (0.1 microg/L and 1 microg/L) were also examined. The 96-h LC(50) values obtained from the results of acute exposure were 127.03 (130.11-122.35) ng/L and 9.36 (8.00-10.96) microg/L for chlordane and lindane, respectively. Furthermore, reductions of testosterone concentration were observed in both chlordane- and lindane-treated shrimps, whereas induction of vitellogenin-like protein was only apparent in chlordane-treated shrimps. Thus, it is concluded that chlordane and lindane may probably show some disruption endocrine functions on N. denticulata.
International Journal of Toxicology 23(2):91-5. · 1.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Metallothioneins (MTs) have been widely considered for their potential use as specific biomarkers to reflect the existence of heavy metal pollution, because their induction has been observed to be obviously elevated after heavy metal exposure in a large number organism studied. However, relatively fewer efforts have been made in MT-related studies of prawn species, such as the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, a globally important aquaculture species. With the results from gel filtration chromatography, we demonstrate the existence of MTs or MT-like proteins in L.vannamei. We further studied the relationship between MT induction and metals accumulation after long-term exposure to the heavy metals Cd and Zn. From our results, it is very clear that the response of L. vannamei to Cd differs from that to Zn, and this should be considered when using MTs in field applications to monitor metals contamination.
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 140(3-4):383-94. · 2.62 Impact Factor
