1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene induction of chromosomal aberrations and cell division of root-tip cells in Vicia faba seedlings

Earthworms as agents for ecotoxicity in roxarsone-contaminated soil ecosystem: a modeling study of ultrastructure and proteomics

Contamination of roxarsone has been recognized as a potential environmental hazard. In this study, Eisenia fetida samples were collected after roxarsone exposures to analyze their intestinal epithelium ultrastructure, expression levels of stress-related genes, and proteomics. Our results showed that mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in roxarsone-treated earthworms demonstrated variety of damages. Furthermore, 149 proteins were displayed in 2-DE, and 36 of them were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. Those identified proteins are involved in several important processes including cell immunity, cell stress responses, and cell genetic behaviors. Our study demonstrates the toxicity responses of earthworms toward arsenic-based animal drug roxarsone with practical usefulness and demonstrates a proteomic profile change that may be critical for the roxarsone stress survival mechanisms of E. fetida. Graphical Abstract Inspiration of this referred to the form of Fig. 4 in the article "Proteomic analysis of a high aluminum tolerant yeast Rhodotorula taiwanensis RS1 in response to aluminum stress" of Chao, W et al.

Molecular and ultrastructural insights into the earthworm Eisenia fetida of the assessment of ecotoxicity during colistin exposure

Colistin is a peptide antibiotic widely used as a feed additive in animal farming, especially in poultry and swine production, for treatment and prevention of gram-negative bacterial infections, as well as for growth promotion use. When orally ingested, colistin is poorly absorbed and is eliminated almost unaltered by the enteric canal into the environment. Thus, risk of environmental toxicity cannot be ignored. In the present study, we examined the effects of colistin on Heath Shock Protein (HSP) 70, metallothionein (MT) gene expressions, and the ultrastructure of intestinal cells, following treatment of the soil indicator earthworm Eisenia fetida with 10, 20, and 100 mg/kg colistin for 7, 14, and 21 days. The results showed that, compared with the control, the expressions of HSP70 and MT genes changed significantly. Colistin caused up-regulations of HSP70's expression while inhibited the expression of MT gene. In addition, most mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum were damaged in the group treated with high concentration. The investigation of gene expressions of HSP70 and MT, as well as pathological alterations in the intestinal cells, may provide important information in terms of ecotoxicity of colistin and can be used as early warning system.

Biological responses of maize (Zea mays) plants exposed to chlorobenzenes. Case study of monochloro-, 1,4-dichloro- and 1,2,4-trichloro-benzenes

A 7-day-exposure time experiment was designed to investigate the phytotoxicity of chlorobenzenes (CBs) on Zea mays seedlings, focusing on the growth and generation of oxidative stress. Significant growth inhibition (based on biomass gain) was observed for exposure to monochlorobenzene (MCB), dichlorobenzene (DCB) and trichlorobenzene (TCB) concentrations higher than 10 mg l(-1). It would seem that CBs inhibit cell division, since the mitotic index decreased for roots exposed to DCB at 80 mg l(-1) dose (8%) and to all the TCB concentrations tested (20% inhibition). CBs exposure resulting in an increase in the oxidative stress response in maize seedlings [reactive oxygen species like H(2)O(2), antioxidant enzymes (POD, GR), lipid peroxidation] correlated to the compound's degree of chlorination, where damage increasing with the number of chlorine atoms (MCB < DCB < TCB). This biological response was also dependent on the dose-exposure. Z. mays exposed to CBs at concentrations <10 mg l(-1) did not induce sufficient oxidative damage to cause root cell death. Therefore, CBs at current environmental concentrations are unlikely to produce evident phytotoxic effects on Z. mays seedlings.

Effects of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene on the enzyme activities and ultrastructure of earthworm Eisenia fetida

Adult Eisenia fetida earthworms were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene to assess the toxicity of contaminated soils. The LC₅₀ of 1,2,4-TCB at 7 and 14 d were 945±175 and 890±169 mg kg⁻¹. A lower dose of 1,2,4-TCB (25 mg g⁻¹) had stimulatory effects on SOD and AChE activities, but AChE activities were significantly inhibited at higher treatment levels (100 and 400 mg g⁻¹). SOD activities increased after 2, 7, and 14 d of exposure, but AChE activities were significantly inhibited at 400 mg/kg 1,2,4-TCB after 2, 7, and 14 d of exposure, and the inhibition rates were 25.41%, 28.65%, and 25.05%. Ultrastructural observation of the intestinal epithelium at three concentrations (control, 50, and 400 mg g⁻¹) revealed that the epicuticle, cuticle layer, and microvilli were damaged with increasing 1,2,4-TCB concentration. At 400 mg kg⁻¹, mitochondria were seriously injured and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum was seriously dilated.

Genotoxicity evaluation of water soil leachates by Ames test, comet assay, and preliminary Tradescantia micronucleus assay

Combining genotoxicity/mutagenicity tests and physico-chemical methodologies can be useful for determining the potential genotoxic contaminants in soil samples. The aim of our study was to evaluate the genotoxicity of soil by applying an integrated physico-chemical-biological approach. Soil samples were collected at six sampling points in a Slovenian industrial and agricultural region where contamination by heavy metals and sulphur dioxide (SO(2)) are primarily caused by a nearby power plant. The in vitro alkaline version of the comet assay on water soil leachates was performed with Caco-2 and HepG2 cells. A parallel genotoxicity evaluation of the samples was performed by Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium and the Tradescantia micronucleus test. Pedological analyses, heavy metal content determination, and different physico-chemical analyses, were also performed utilizing standard methodology. Water leachates of soil samples were prepared according to standard methods. Since only a battery of biotests with prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms or cells can accurately estimate the effects of (geno)toxicants in soil samples and water soil leachates, a combination of three bioassays, with cells or organisms belonging to different trophic levels, was used. Genotoxicity of all six water soil leachates was proven by the comet assay on both human cell lines, however no positive results were detected by bacterial assay, Ames test. The Tradescantia micronucleus assay showed increase in micronuclei formation for three samples. According to these results we can assume that the comet assay was the most sensitive assay, followed by the micronucleus test. The Ames test does not appear to be sensitive enough for water soil leachates genotoxicity evaluations where heavy metal contamination is anticipated.

A proteomic analysis of rice seedlings responding to 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene stress

The proteomic analysis of rice (Oryza sativa L.) roots and leaves responding to 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB) stress was carried out by two dimensional gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometric (MS), and protein database analysis. The results showed that 5 mg/L TCB stress had a significant effect on global proteome in rice roots and leaves. The analysis of the category and function of TCB stress inducible proteins showed that different kinds of responses were produced in rice roots and leaves, when rice seedlings were exposed to 5 mg/L TCB stress. Most responses are essential for rice defending the damage of TCB stress. These responses include detoxication of toxic substances, expression of pathogenesis-related proteins, synthesis of cell wall substances and secondary compounds, regulation of protein and amino acid metabolism, activation of methionine salvage pathway, and also include osmotic regulation and phytohormone metabolism. Comparing the TCB stress inducible proteins between the two cultivars, the beta-glucosidase and pathogenesis-related protein family 10 proteins were particularly induced by TCB stress in the roots of rice cultivar (Oryza sativa L.) Aizaizhan, and the glutathione S-transferase and aci-reductone dioxygenase 4 were induced in the roots of rice cultivar Shanyou 63. This may be one of the important mechanisms for Shanyou 63 having higher tolerance to TCB stress than Aizaizhan.

Root growth inhibition and induction of DNA damage in soybean (Glycine max) by chlorobenzenes in contaminated soil

The cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB), chlorobenzene (CB), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) on root growth and DNA strand breakage damage of soybean nuclei in the test soil were studied using the comet assay. Results indicated that the root growth was significantly inhibited, and DNA strand breaks and the comet tail in the root tip nuclei were both induced after 48 h exposure with TCB concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 300 microg g(-1) in the soil. DNA strand breakage was more sensitive to the TCB than the root growth. There was a significant dose-response relationship between the TCB exposure and DNA strand breakage in the soybean nuclei. Thus it is possible for DNA strand breakage to be used as a biomarker of soybean exposed to TCB contamination. Significant cytotoxic threshold concentration of the TCB exposure on the root growth inhibition was determined as 61 microg g(-1) in the soil. The toxicity of 100-1,000 microg g(-1) CB and HCB to the soybean seedlings in the soil were not observed after 48 h or longer exposure.