title: Arsenic toxicity and HSP70 expression in Xenopus laevis embryos.
abstract: The evaluation of the effect of trace metals on health can be difficult, because of their presence in the environment in various chemical forms. Exposure to arsenic compounds is an example of this complexity, as it can be present in the environment in inorganic and organic forms. The effects of arsenic in vertebrates are complicated by several variables, such as speciation of the element, the exposure route, and the susceptibility of the particular animal species. The embryotoxicity and teratogenicity of three arsenic species - sodium arsenite (NaAsO(2)), disodium hydrogen arsenate (Na(2)HAsO(4)) and dimethylarsinic acid [(CH3)2AsOOH] - were evaluated by the modified frog embryo teratogenic assay on Xenopus (FETAX). We also show how the classical FETAX endpoints, based on morphological and morphometrical analysis, can conveniently be integrated with the study of molecular markers. Possible changes in the expression of the mRNA for the heat-shock protein HSP70, following exposure to NaAsO(2), were examined by using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. HSP70 mRNA is strongly induced by arsenic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Università dell'Insubria, 3 Via Dunant, 21100 Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gornati
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Monetti
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vigetti
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bosisio
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fortaner
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sabbioni
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernardini
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prati
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives; D000818:Animals; D001149:Arsenates / Q000633:toxicity; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000378:metabolism; D018053:Arsenites / Q000633:toxicity; D002101:Cacodylic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017670:Sodium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D001149:Arsenates; D018053:Arsenites; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D013723:Teratogens; C017947:sodium arsenite; C009277:sodium arsenate; D002101:Cacodylic Acid; D001151:Arsenic