Application of a biomarker battery for the evaluation of the sublethal effects of pollutants in the earthworm Eisenia andrei

Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol. 2007 Sep;146(3):398-405. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2007.04.014. Epub 2007 May 10.

Abstract

We applied a battery of biomarkers in the earthworm Eisenia andrei to assess the pollutant-induced stress syndrome. Earthworms were exposed to sublethal concentrations of copper (1-10 microM) and benzo[a]pyrene (0.01-10 microM) as models of inorganic and organic pollutants for 1, 3 and 7 days. Four potential biomarkers of stress were measured: lysosomal membrane stability of coelomocytes, lysosomal accumulation of lipofuscin in chloragogenous tissue and of neutral lipids in coelomatic cells, plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase activity in the intestinal epithelium; metallothionein content was also evaluated as a biomarker of exposure. Significant changes were observed in the parameters measured in earthworms exposed to both contaminants. Certain biomarkers, such as lysosomal membrane stability and Ca2+-ATPase activity, that showed a decreasing trend with increasing pollutant concentration and time of exposure, proved to be particularly suitable to describe the evolution of a stress syndrome from its early phase to the development of pathological conditions. On the other hand, contaminant-induced changes in lysosomal lipofuscin and neutral lipid accumulation showed a bell-shaped trend, indicating that these biomarkers are able to follow the development of pollutant-induced stress syndrome as far as an equilibrium in the cell functions is maintained; therefore, they are particularly useful to describe mild stress conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzo(a)pyrene / toxicity*
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Calcium-Transporting ATPases / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / enzymology
  • Cell Membrane / pathology
  • Copper / toxicity*
  • Digestive System / drug effects
  • Digestive System / metabolism
  • Digestive System / pathology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / drug effects
  • Intestinal Mucosa / enzymology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Intracellular Membranes / drug effects
  • Intracellular Membranes / metabolism
  • Lipofuscin / metabolism
  • Lysosomes / drug effects
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • Metallothionein / metabolism
  • Oligochaeta*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Soil Pollutants / toxicity*
  • Toxicity Tests

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Lipofuscin
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Benzo(a)pyrene
  • Copper
  • Metallothionein
  • Calcium-Transporting ATPases
  • cupric chloride