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Ulaganathan G, Jiang H, Canio N, Oke A, Armstrong SS, Abrahamsson D, Varshavsky JR, Lam J, Cooper C, Robinson JF, Fung JC, Woodruff TJ, Allard P. Screening and characterization of 133 physiologically-relevant environmental chemicals for reproductive toxicity. Reprod Toxicol 2024; 126:108602. [PMID: 38723698 PMCID: PMC11155672 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Reproduction is a functional outcome that relies on complex cellular, tissue, and organ interactions that span the developmental period to adulthood. Thus, the assessment of its disruption by environmental chemicals would benefit significantly from scalable and innovative approaches to testing using functionally comparable reproductive models such as the nematode C. elegans. We adapted a previously described low-throughput in vivo chromosome segregation assay using C. elegans predictive of reproductive toxicity and leveraged available public data sources (ToxCast, ICE) to screen and characterize 133 physiologically-relevant chemicals in a high-throughput manner. The screening outcome was further validated in a second, independent in vivo assay assessing embryonic viability. In total, 13 chemicals were classified as reproductive toxicants with the two most active chemicals belonging to the large family of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) commonly used as disinfectants but with limited available reproductive toxicity data. We compared the results from the C. elegans assay with ToxCast in vitro data compiled from 700+ cell response assays and 300+ signaling pathways-based assays. We did not observe a difference in the bioactivity or in the average potency (AC50) between the top and bottom chemicals. However, the intended target categories were significantly different between the classified chemicals with, in particular, an over-representation of steroid hormone targets for the high Z-score chemicals. Taken together, these results point to the value of in vivo models that scale to high-throughput level for reproductive toxicity assessment and to the need to prioritize the assessment of QACs impacts on reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurugowtham Ulaganathan
- Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hui Jiang
- Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Noah Canio
- Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ashwini Oke
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sujit Silas Armstrong
- Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dimitri Abrahamsson
- Department of Pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Julia R Varshavsky
- Department of Health Sciences and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Juleen Lam
- Department of Public Health, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA, USA
| | - Courtney Cooper
- University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joshua F Robinson
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer C Fung
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tracey J Woodruff
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA; University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Allard
- Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Ulaganathan G, Jiang H, Canio N, Oke A, Armstrong SS, Abrahamsson D, Varshavsky JR, Lam J, Cooper C, Robinson JF, Fung JC, Woodruff TJ, Allard P. Screening and characterization of 133 physiologically-relevant environmental chemicals for reproductive toxicity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.22.584808. [PMID: 38585844 PMCID: PMC10996516 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.22.584808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Reproduction is a functional outcome that relies on complex cellular, tissue, and organ interactions that span the developmental period to adulthood. Thus, the assessment of its disruption by environmental chemicals is remarkably painstaking in conventional toxicological animal models and does not scale up to the number of chemicals present in our environment and requiring testing. We adapted a previously described low-throughput in vivo chromosome segregation assay using C. elegans predictive of reproductive toxicity and leveraged available public data sources (ToxCast, ICE) to screen and characterize 133 physiologically-relevant chemicals in a high-throughput manner. The screening outcome was further validated in a second, independent in vivo assay assessing embryonic viability. In total, 13 chemicals were classified as reproductive toxicants with the two most active chemicals belonging to the large family of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) commonly used as disinfectants but with limited available reproductive toxicity data. We compared the results from the C. elegans assay with ToxCast in vitro data compiled from 700+ cell response assays and 300+ signaling pathways-based assays. We did not observe a difference in the bioactivity or in average potency (AC50) between the top and bottom chemicals. However, the intended target categories were significantly different between the classified chemicals with, in particular, an over-representation of steroid hormone targets for the high Z-score chemicals. Taken together, these results point to the value of in vivo models that scale to high-throughput level for reproductive toxicity assessment and to the need to prioritize the assessment of QACs impacts on reproduction.
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Hu K, Xu Y, Xu S, Cheng L, Zhou T, Xie A, Xu A, Wu L, Chen S. Ecotoxicity Risk of Low-Dose Methylmercury Exposure to Caenorhabditis elegans: Multigenerational Toxicity and Population Discrepancy. Chem Res Toxicol 2021; 34:1114-1123. [PMID: 33739826 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a common organic form of mercury in water, which has been linked to several forms of biological toxicity. However, studies on the ecotoxicity risk of long-term exposure to low-dose MeHg are insufficient for the assessment of environmental safety. In the present study, the effects of MeHg on multiple generations (P0-F3) and population of Caenorhabditis elegans were investigated under long-term, low-dose exposure. We investigated the multigenerational toxicity of MeHg by analyzing reproductive and developmental indicators. According to our results, exposure to 100 nM MeHg had little effect on the parental generation (P0) but caused serious reproductive toxicity in the offspring (F1-F3), and the effect of MeHg was aggravated with each passing generation. The genes related to apoptosis and DNA damage were upregulated in the F3 generation. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the changes in these genes were closely related to the apoptosis of gonadal cells. Furthermore, chronic exposure to MeHg (from 100 to 1000 nM group) caused a sharp decline in population size and triggered the "bag of worms" phenotype. Genes related to vulvar development were downregulated in the F3 generation after treatment with 100 nM MeHg. These data suggest that long-term low-dose MeHg exposure adversely affected C. elegans and its offspring and triggered multigenerational toxicity and population discrepancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunyu Hu
- School of Environmental Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.,Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology of Anhui Province, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology of Anhui Province, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Shengmin Xu
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Lei Cheng
- School of Environmental Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.,Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology of Anhui Province, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Tong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology of Anhui Province, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Aidi Xie
- Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology of Anhui Province, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - An Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.,Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology of Anhui Province, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Lijun Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.,Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology of Anhui Province, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.,Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Shaopeng Chen
- Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology of Anhui Province, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.,School of Public Health, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China
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Hornos Carneiro MF, Shin N, Karthikraj R, Barbosa F, Kannan K, Colaiácovo MP. Antioxidant CoQ10 Restores Fertility by Rescuing Bisphenol A-Induced Oxidative DNA Damage in the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline. Genetics 2020; 214:381-395. [PMID: 31852725 PMCID: PMC7017011 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.302939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are ubiquitously present in our environment, but the mechanisms by which they adversely affect human reproductive health and strategies to circumvent their effects remain largely unknown. Here, we show in Caenorhabditis elegans that supplementation with the antioxidant Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) rescues the reprotoxicity induced by the widely used plasticizer and endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), in part by neutralizing DNA damage resulting from oxidative stress. CoQ10 significantly reduces BPA-induced elevated levels of germ cell apoptosis, phosphorylated checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK-1), double-strand breaks (DSBs), and chromosome defects in diakinesis oocytes. BPA-induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased gene expression of antioxidant enzymes in the germline are counteracted by CoQ10. Finally, CoQ10 treatment also reduced the levels of aneuploid embryos and BPA-induced defects observed in early embryonic divisions. We propose that CoQ10 may counteract BPA-induced reprotoxicity through the scavenging of reactive oxygen species and free radicals, and that this natural antioxidant could constitute a low-risk and low-cost strategy to attenuate the impact on fertility by BPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Fernanda Hornos Carneiro
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Nara Shin
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | | | - Fernando Barbosa
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York 12201
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, New York 12201
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Jacques MT, Bornhorst J, Soares MV, Schwerdtle T, Garcia S, Ávila DS. Reprotoxicity of glyphosate-based formulation in Caenorhabditis elegans is not due to the active ingredient only. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 252:1854-1862. [PMID: 31326750 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.06.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides guarantee us high productivity in agriculture, but the long-term costs have proved too high. Acute and chronic intoxication of humans and animals, contamination of soil, water and food are the consequences of the current demand and sales of these products. In addition, pesticides such as glyphosate are sold in commercial formulations which have inert ingredients, substances with unknown composition and proportion. Facing this scenario, toxicological studies that investigate the interaction between the active principle and the inert ingredients are necessary. The following work proposed comparative toxicology studies between glyphosate and its commercial formulation using the alternative model Caenorhabditis elegans. Worms were exposed to different concentrations of the active ingredient (glyphosate in monoisopropylamine salt) and its commercial formulation. Reproductive capacity was evaluated through brood size, morphological analysis of oocytes and through the MD701 strain (bcIs39), which allows the visualization of germ cells in apoptosis. In addition, the metal composition in the commercial formulation was analyzed by ICP-MS. Only the commercial formulation of glyphosate showed significant negative effects on brood size, body length, oocyte size, and the number of apoptotic cells. Metal analysis showed the presence of Hg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb in the commercial formulation, which did not cause reprotoxicity at the concentrations found. However, metals can bioaccumulate in soil and water and cause environmental impacts. Finally, we demonstrated that the addition of inert ingredients increased the toxic profile of the active ingredient glyphosate in C. elegans, which reinforces the need of components description in the product labels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Tavares Jacques
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Toxicologia em Caenorhabditis Elegans, Federal University of Pampa, BR 472, Km 592, PO BOX 118, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Experimentação em Neuropatologia, Department of Biochemistry, CCB, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Block C, Trindade, Florianópolis, SC, CEP 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Julia Bornhorst
- Department of Food Chemistry, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany; TraceAge - DFG Research Unit FOR 2558, Berlin-Potsdam-Jena, Germany; Department of Food Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Wuppertal, Gaußstraße 20, 42119 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Marcell Valandro Soares
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Toxicologia em Caenorhabditis Elegans, Federal University of Pampa, BR 472, Km 592, PO BOX 118, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Tanja Schwerdtle
- Department of Food Chemistry, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany; TraceAge - DFG Research Unit FOR 2558, Berlin-Potsdam-Jena, Germany
| | - Solange Garcia
- Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Santa Cecília, Porto Alegre, RS, 90610-000, Brazil
| | - Daiana Silva Ávila
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Toxicologia em Caenorhabditis Elegans, Federal University of Pampa, BR 472, Km 592, PO BOX 118, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
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Salehzadeh A, Abbasalipourkabir R, Shisheian B, Rafaat A, Nikkhah A, Rezaii T. The alleviating effects of sesame oil on diazinon-induced toxicity in male wistar rats. Drug Chem Toxicol 2018; 42:280-285. [DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2018.1449852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aref Salehzadeh
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Roghaye Abbasalipourkabir
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Behrooz Shisheian
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Ali Rafaat
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Ali Nikkhah
- School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Tahereh Rezaii
- School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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Abstract
Germ cells are unique in their ability to transfer traits and genetic information from one generation to the next. The proper development and integrity of their genome are therefore of utmost importance for the health of organisms and survival of species. Many features of mammalian germ cells, including their long development span and difficulty of access, present challenges for their study in the context of toxicity assays. In light of these barriers, the model system Caenorhabditis elegans shows great potential given its ease of manipulation and genetic tractability which can be easily adapted for high-throughput analysis. In this chapter, we discuss the advantages of examining germ cell processes in C. elegans, and describe three functional germline assays for the examination of chemical impact on germline maintenance and function including assays probing germ cell differentiation, germline apoptosis, and germline epigenetic regulation.
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Insights into the Phenotypic and Behavioral Effects of Teratogenic Drugs in Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1797:217-232. [PMID: 29896695 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7883-0_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Environmental toxicants, chemical substances produced or introduced into the environment directly by humans or their activities, can act as teratogens during development that negatively impact health. Long-term ramifications of environmental exposures to sublethal doses of teratogens are often unrecognized and unknown. The round worm, Caenorhabditis elegans, is an emerging model organism to investigate the long-term impacts of environmental teratogens upon health. This chapter describes a toxicant exposure paradigm integrated with phenotyping assays to screen adult worms, and their progeny, for effects on reproduction, growth and development, behavior, and energy balance.
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Killeen A, Marin de Evsikova C. Effects of sub-lethal teratogen exposure during larval development on egg laying and egg quality in adult Caenorhabditis elegans. F1000Res 2016; 5:2925. [PMID: 28163903 PMCID: PMC5247790 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.8934.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Acute high dose exposure to teratogenic chemicals alters the proper development of an embryo leading to infertility, impaired fecundity, and few viable offspring. However, chronic exposure to sub-toxic doses of teratogens during early development may also have long-term impacts on egg quality and embryo viability. Methods: To test the hypothesis that low dose exposure during early development can impact long-term reproductive health, Caenorhabditis elegans larvae were exposed to 10 teratogens during larval development, and subsequently were examined for the pattern of egg-laying and egg quality (hatched larvae and embryo viability) as gravid adults. After the exposure, adult gravid worms were transferred to untreated plates and the numbers of eggs laid were recorded every 3 hours, and the day following exposure the numbers of hatched larvae were counted. Results: While fecundity and fertility were typically impaired by teratogens, unexpectedly, many teratogens initially increased egg-laying at the earliest interval compared to control but not at later intervals. However, egg quality, as assessed by embryo viability, remained the same because many of the eggs (<50%) did not hatch. Conclusions: Chronic, low dose exposures to teratogens during early larval development have subtle, long-term effects on egg laying and egg quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Killeen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA
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Han Y, Song S, Guo Y, Zhang J, Ma E. ace-3 plays an important role in phoxim resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2016; 25:835-844. [PMID: 26947509 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-016-1640-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Organophosphorus and carbamate are widely used in agricultural production. Caenorhabditis elegans is a model organism that is widely used in various toxicology studies. To understand the effects of two types of commonly used pesticides, phoxim (organophosphorus) and carbaryl (carbamate), we determined the activities of acetylcholinesterases (AChEs) and detected the expression of four ace genes by RT-qPCR in C. elegans following treatment with these pesticides. The results showed that phoxim and carbaryl could reduce acetylcholinesterase activities and up-regulate the ace-3 mRNA expression levels. We also detected the toxic effects of these pesticides on the ace-3 deletion mutant dc-2, and found that some characteristics, including LC50, development, movement, reproduction and lifespan, were reduced in the dc-2 mutant. However, the toxic effects of carbaryl were weaker than those of phoxim. Carbaryl treatment did not significantly affect the LC50, movement ability or lifespan. Interestingly, body and brood size increased with carbaryl treatment at low concentrations. These data showed that both phoxim and carbaryl could inhibit AChE but that the ace-3 was necessary for phoxim detoxification. The LC50 of phoxim and carbaryl in wild type N2 and the ace-3 deletion mutant dc-2. **Higher significant differences (P < 0.01).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Han
- Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, China
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, China
| | - Shaojuan Song
- Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, China
- Basic Medical College, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, 046000, Shanxi, China
| | - Yaping Guo
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, China
| | - Jianzhen Zhang
- Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, China
| | - Enbo Ma
- Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, China.
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Habas K, Anderson D, Brinkworth M. Detection of phase specificity of in vivo germ cell mutagens in an in vitro germ cell system. Toxicology 2016; 353-354:1-10. [PMID: 27059372 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2016.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Revised: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
In vivo tests for male reproductive genotoxicity are time consuming, resource-intensive and their use should be minimised according to the principles of the 3Rs. Accordingly, we investigated the effects in vitro, of a variety of known, phase-specific germ cell mutagens, i.e., pre-meiotic, meiotic, and post-meiotic genotoxins, on rat spermatogenic cell types separated using Staput unit-gravity velocity sedimentation, evaluating DNA damage using the Comet assay. N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU), N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) (spermatogenic phase), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and 5-bromo-2'-deoxy-uridine (5-BrdU) (meiotic phase), methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) and ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) (post-meiotic phase) were selected for use as they are potent male rodent, germ cell mutagens in vivo. DNA damage was detected directly using the Comet assay and indirectly using the TUNEL assay. Treatment of the isolated cells with ENU and MNU produced the greatest concentration-related increase in DNA damage in spermatogonia. Spermatocytes were most sensitive to 6-MP and 5-BrdU while spermatids were particularly susceptible to MMS and EMS. Increases were found when measuring both Olive tail moment (OTM) and% tail DNA, but the greatest changes were in OTM. Parallel results were found with the TUNEL assay, which showed highly significant, concentration dependent effects of all these genotoxins on spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids in the same way as for DNA damage. The specific effects of these chemicals on different germ cell types matches those produced in vivo. This approach therefore shows potential for use in the detection of male germ cell genotoxicity and could contribute to the reduction of the use of animals in such toxicity assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Habas
- Division of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, Richmond Road, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
| | - Diana Anderson
- Division of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, Richmond Road, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
| | - Martin Brinkworth
- Division of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, Richmond Road, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK.
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12
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Ferreira DW, Allard P. Models of germ cell development and their application for toxicity studies. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2015; 56:637-49. [PMID: 25821157 PMCID: PMC4586303 DOI: 10.1002/em.21946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Revised: 02/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/21/2015] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Germ cells are unique in their ability to transfer genetic information and traits from generation to generation. As such, the proper development of germ cells and the integrity of their genome are paramount to the health of organisms and the survival of species. Germ cells are also exquisitely sensitive to environmental influences although the testing of germ cell toxicity, especially in females, has proven particularly challenging. In this review, we first describe the remarkable odyssey of germ cells in mammals, with an emphasis on the female germline, from their initial specification early during embryogenesis to the generation of mature gametes in adults. We also describe the current methods used in germ cell toxicity testing and their limitations in examining the complex features of mammalian germ cell development. To bypass these challenges, we propose the use of alternative model systems such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, and in vitro germ cell methods that have distinct advantages over traditional toxicity models. We discuss the benefits and limitations of each approach, their application to germ cell toxicity studies, and the need for computational approaches to maximize the usefulness of these models. Together, the inclusion of these alternative germ cell toxicity models will be invaluable for the examination of stages not easily accessible in mammals as well as the large scale, high-throughput investigation of germ cell toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Ferreira
- Institute for Society and Genetics, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Patrick Allard
- Institute for Society and Genetics, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California
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