title: Effects of methoxychlor, dieldrin and lindane on sea urchin fertilization and early development.
abstract: We have studied the effects of methoxychlor (MXC), dieldrin, and lindane on fertilization and early development of sea urchin egg. These organochlorine pesticides have often been found in polluted ground and water near agricultural sites, and have therefore been detected from time to time in the food chain and in drinking water. They have been reported to alter various reproduction functions in various animals including marine populations. We observed that the rate of fertilization decreased when the sperm was incubated with dieldrin or lindane. Treatment of eggs with each pesticide did not prevent fertilization, but increased the rate in polyspermy, delayed or blocked the first mitotic divisions, and altered early embryonic development. Moreover, all pesticides could alter several intracellular biochemical pathways that control first mitotic divisions and early development, including intracellular calcium homeostasis, MPF (mitosis promoting factor) activity and formation of the bipolar mitotic spindle. We found that lindane was the most potent of the three pesticides to alter all biochemical events. All these effects were observed at relatively high concentrations. However, bio-accumulation in sediments and aquatic organisms have been reported. Sea urchin eggs may then be in contact with very high concentrations of these pesticides in areas where these pesticides are not handled or stocked properly, and then develop into abnormal embryos.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Réponses des Organismes aux Stress de l'Environnement, UMR INRA-UNSA 1112, Faculté des Sciences, Parc Valrose, BP 71, 06108 Nice, France.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pesando
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huitorel
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gutknecht
authors.forename: Lucilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ciapa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004026:Dieldrin / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects*; D005602:France; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000633:toxicity*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008731:Methoxychlor / Q000633:toxicity*; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D012623:Seawater; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D004026:Dieldrin; D008731:Methoxychlor