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Odetti LM, Paravani EV, Simoniello MF, Poletta GL. Micronucleus test in reptiles: Current and future perspectives. MUTATION RESEARCH. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2024; 897:503772. [PMID: 39054003 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2024.503772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Micronucleus (MN) cell counting emerged in 1973-1975 as a valid alternative for characterizing chromosomal damage caused by different agents. It was first described in mammals, but its application was rapidly extended to other vertebrates, mainly fish. However, it was not until 28 years later that this test was implemented in studies on reptiles. Nowadays, reptiles are found to be excellent non-target species from environmental contamination exposure and MN test has become a fundamental tool for analyzing genotoxic effects induced by various xenobiotics. In this article we provide an updated review of the application of the MN test in reptile species, from an ecotoxicological perspective. Therefore, we present (I) a bibliometric analysis of the available research on genotoxic-induced MN formation in reptile species; (II) the use of reptiles as sentinel organisms in ecotoxicological studies; and (III) the strength and weakness of the application of the MN test in this group. With this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive view on the use of the MN test in ecotoxicology and to encourage further studies involving reptile species.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Odetti
- Cát. Toxicol. y Bioq. Legal, FBCB-UNL. Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje El Pozo S/N (3000), Santa Fe, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Rivadavia 12 1917, CABA C1033AAJ, Argentina.
| | - E V Paravani
- Laboratorio de Química Ambiental, Cátedra de Química General e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos, Oro Verde, Argentina
| | - Ma F Simoniello
- Cát. Toxicol. y Bioq. Legal, FBCB-UNL. Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje El Pozo S/N (3000), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - G L Poletta
- Cát. Toxicol. y Bioq. Legal, FBCB-UNL. Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje El Pozo S/N (3000), Santa Fe, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Rivadavia 12 1917, CABA C1033AAJ, Argentina
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Chianese T, Cominale R, Scudiero R, Rosati L. Could Exposure to Glyphosate Pose a Risk to the Survival of Wild Animals? A Case Study on the Field Lizard Podarcis siculus. Vet Sci 2023; 10:583. [PMID: 37756105 PMCID: PMC10535126 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10090583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Soil contaminants (herbicides, pesticides, and heavy metals) are among the main causes of change in terrestrial ecosystems. These substances lead to a general loss of biodiversity, both of flora and fauna and being able to biomagnify and pass through the food chain, they can endanger the survival of terrestrial vertebrates at the top of this chain. This review analyzes the risks associated with exposure to glyphosate, the active principle of many herbicide products, for the reproductive health of the field lizard (Podarcis siculus) potentially exposed to the substance in its natural habitat; therefore, introducing it as a possible model organism. Data demonstrate that glyphosate is toxic for this animal, affecting the health of the reproductive organs, both in males and females, and of the liver, the main detoxifying organ and closely involved in the female reproductive process. Sharing structural and functional characteristics of these organs with many other vertebrates, the information obtained with this reptile represents a wake-up call to consider when analyzing the cost/benefit ratio of glyphosate-based substances. The data clearly demonstrate that the P. siculus lizard can be considered a good target organism to study the reproductive risk assessment and hazards of exposure to soil contaminants on wild terrestrial vertebrates.
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Rosati L, Chianese T, De Gregorio V, Verderame M, Raggio A, Motta CM, Scudiero R. Glyphosate Interference in Follicular Organization in the Wall Lizard Podarcis siculus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087363. [PMID: 37108525 PMCID: PMC10138419 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Glyphosate (Gly) is a broad-spectrum herbicide widely used thanks to its high efficiency and low toxicity. However, evidence exists of its toxic effects on non-target organisms. Among these, the animals inhabiting agricultural fields are particularly threatened. Recent studies demonstrated that exposure to Gly markedly affected the morphophysiology of the liver and testis of the Italian field lizard Podarcis siculus. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the herbicide on the female reproductive system of this lizard in order to have a full picture of Gly-induced reproductive impairment. The animals were exposed to 0.05 and 0.5 μg/kg of pure Gly by gavage for 3 weeks. The results demonstrated that Gly, at both doses tested, profoundly interfered with ovarian function. It induced germ cells' recruitment and altered follicular anatomy by anticipating apoptotic regression of the pyriform cells. It also induced thecal fibrosis and affected oocyte cytoplasm and zona pellucida organizations. At the functional levels, Gly stimulated the synthesis of estrogen receptors, suggesting a serious endocrine-disrupting effect. Overall, the follicular alterations, combined with those found at the level of the seminiferous tubules in males, suggest serious damage to the reproductive fitness of these non-target organisms, which over time could lead to a decline in survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Rosati
- Department of Biology, University Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Teresa Chianese
- Department of Biology, University Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Vincenza De Gregorio
- Department of Biology, University Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Mariailaria Verderame
- Department of Human, Philosophic and Education Sciences (DISUFF), University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Anja Raggio
- Department of Biology, University Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Chiara Maria Motta
- Department of Biology, University Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Rosaria Scudiero
- Department of Biology, University Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Napoli, Italy
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Moltedo G, Catalano B, Martuccio G, Sesta G, Romanelli G, Lauria A, Berducci MT, Parravano R, Maggi C, Simbula G, Vignoli L, Onorati F, D'Antoni S. Processes involved in biochemical response to pesticides by lizard Podarcis siculus (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810) – A field study. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023; 467:116491. [PMID: 36990228 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Although reptiles are non-target organisms of pesticide applications, their ecological niche and trophic role suggest that the use of these compounds in agriculture can have toxicological effects on them. Our recent field study on Italian wall lizard Podarcis siculus in hazelnut orchards evidenced that the use of pesticides-mixtures, consisting of thiophanate-methyl (TM), tebuconazole (TEB), deltamethrin (DM), lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT), besides copper sulphate, induced an increase of the total antioxidant capacity toward hydroxyl radicals and caused DNA damage; however, it did not cause neurotoxicity, and did not induce the glutathione-S-transferases' activities. These results raised some questions which were answered in this study by carrying out analyses on 4 biomarkers and 5 chemical substances in the tissues of non-target organisms coming from treated fields: cytochrome P450, catalase, total glutathione, and malondialdehyde, TM, TEB, DM, LCT and Cu. Our results highlighted a partial accumulation of different chemicals, the involvement of two important mechanisms of defence, and some cellular damages after exposure to the considered pesticides. In details, 1) LCT and DM were not accumulated in lizard muscle, copper remained at basal levels, whereas TM and TEB were uptaken with a partial metabolization of TM; 2) the cytochrome P450 and the catalase were involved in lizard biochemical responses to pesticides-mixtures used for "conventional" farming treatment; 3) "conventional" treatment with pesticides caused damage to lipids, besides DNA, probably related to the excess of hydroxyl radicals.
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Morales-Zamudio L, Fierro-Cabo A, Rahman MS, Dominguez-Crespo MA. Metal contents in house geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from industrial and urban areas of southern Tamaulipas, Mexico and western Andalucía, Spain, may reflect airborne metal pollution. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2023; 86:103-118. [PMID: 36734348 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2023.2170941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
House geckos share living quarters with humans in the tropical and subtropical regions inhabited by these reptiles. Gecko behavior, biological traits, continuous exposure to suspended particulate matter 0 µm in diameter (PM10) and dust, as well as status as exotic species, motivated the choice of these species to examine environmental exposure to ambient air pollutants, in particular metals, and subsequent accumulation in these organisms. One part of the study was conducted in Tamaulipas (Mexico) where Hemydactylus frenatus is abundant in urban and industrial environments, the other part was conducted in Andalucia (Spain) where Tarentola mauritanica is found in similar environments. Adult geckos were collected on buildings in locations affected by various air pollution sources. For both species, higher metal contents were observed in whole-body (including digestive tracts) analysis and were markedly different between collection sites. Contents in tails, digestive tracts, and carcasses without digestive tracts were not correlated. Based on contamination factor values, bioaccumulation in H. frenatus tissues occurred for 12 of the 15 metals analyzed. Data suggest that H. frenatus might serve as a biomonitor for Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr, Li, and V, whereas T. mauritanica might be a biomonitor for Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cr. To our knowledge, metal contents for H. frenatus are reported here for the first time. House gecko data could be integrated into a highly representative monitoring system and health risk assessments related to air quality in residential areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisiana Morales-Zamudio
- Investigación y Posgrado, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CICATA-Altamira, Altamira, Tamaulipas, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Fierro-Cabo
- School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas, USA
| | - Md Saydur Rahman
- School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas, USA
| | - Miguel Antonio Dominguez-Crespo
- Investigación y Posgrado, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CICATA-Altamira, Altamira, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Departamento de Materiales Nanoestructurados, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, San Agustín Tlaxiaca, Hidalgo, Mexico
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Simbula G, Bissattini AM, Vignoli L. Linking agricultural practices to lizard trophic behaviour: An ecological approach. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 830:154822. [PMID: 35341838 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Among intensive agricultural practices, pesticides, mowing, and heavy agricultural machineries have become an important tool to maximize harvesting and secure animal husbandry. However, they are also cause of agricultural ecosystem decline, often leading to degradation of key micro-habitat features for many species, higher predation risk and lower food availability. We investigated the diet and foraging ecology of the Italian wall lizard in agricultural areas to determine whether different management practices (conventional, organic, and control) can affect (i) the structure of the trophic niche of the species; (ii) prey diversity, the degree of individual specialization, and the overall population feeding strategy; (iii) lizards' health status. Faecal pellets were collected for diet composition analyses, while prey diversity in the environment was estimated by placing adhesive traps. Lizards' body condition did not differ among management type although males from control field resulted slightly larger than those from conventional and organic areas. The species showed a generalist (conventional and organic areas) and mixed (control area) feeding strategy with a preference for coleopterans. Although a different prey diversity was found in control areas compared to organic and conventional ones, diet composition and the importance of specific food items was similar among management types. This may suggest that management activities may have affected the overall prey availability and indirectly influenced lizard trophic behaviour. Our study provides a comprehensive knowledge on the feeding ecology of P. siculus in managed habitats, which may have useful implications for the overall conservation of lizards in agricultural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Simbula
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Leonardo Vignoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
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Sciarrillo R, Falzarano A, Gallicchio V, Mileo A, De Falco M. Toxic Effects on Thyroid Gland of Male Adult Lizards ( Podarcis Siculus) in Contact with PolyChlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)-Contaminated Soil. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4790. [PMID: 35563180 PMCID: PMC9102276 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Skin exposure is considered a potentially significant but little-studied pathway for PolyChlorinated Biphenyls uptake in terrestrial reptiles. In this study, a native Italian lizard, Podarcis siculus, was exposed to PCBs-contaminated soil for 120 days. Tissues distribution of PCBs, thyroid hormone levels, and thyroid histo-physiopathology were examined. The accumulation of PCBs in skin, plasma, liver, kidney, and brain were highest at 120 days. The alteration of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels after different concentrations and times to exposure of PCBs was accompanied by the changes in the hormones involved in the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, namely Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). Moreover, hepatic levels of deiodinase II (5'ORDII) and content of T3 were positively correlated to exposure to PCBs. These results indicated that in lizards, PCBs exposure through the skin has the potential to disrupt the thyroid endocrine system. Overall, the observed results indicate that PCBs could be associated with changes in thyroid homeostasis in these reptiles, through direct interactions with the metabolism of T4 and T3 through the HPT axis or indirect interactions with peripheral deiodination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Sciarrillo
- Department of Science and Technologies, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy;
| | - Alessandra Falzarano
- Department of Science and Technologies, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy;
| | - Vito Gallicchio
- Vascular Surgery, Hospital of National Importance San Giuseppe Moscati, Via Contrada Amoretta, 83100 Avellino, Italy;
| | - Aldo Mileo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.M.); (M.D.F.)
| | - Maria De Falco
- Department of Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.M.); (M.D.F.)
- National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (INBB), 00136 Rome, Italy
- Center for Studies on Bioinspired Agro-Environmental Technology (BAT Center), 80055 Portici, Italy
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