Reproductive toxic effects of sublethal cadmium on the marine polychaete Perinereis nuntia.
To gain insight into the reproductive toxicity of sublethal cadmium on marine polychaetes, Perinereis nuntia sandworms were exposed to cadmium via artificially contaminated seawater. Cadmium influence on sexual maturation, egg laying, fertilization, zygote hatching and vitellogenin expression levels were analyzed. Results indicated that 23.05 and 563.87 microg L(-1) cadmium significantly delayed sexual maturation. Fertilization rate was significantly inhibited by 563.87 microg L(-1) cadmium while lower concentrations showed no significant effect. Zygote hatching was significantly inhibited by cadmium concentrations greater than 1.12 microg L(-1). We identified a vitellogenin gene sequence in P. nuntia and found that mRNA transcription was significantly upregulated by cadmium. These results indicate that sublethal cadmium levels cause dose-dependent reproductive toxicity on P. nuntia by inhibiting sexual maturation, fertilization and zygote hatching, and the increased expression of vitellogenin suggesting cadmium has strong feminization effects on polychaetes.
Zheng
Senlin
S
Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, 178 Daxue Road, Xiamen 361005, China. zhengsenlin@yahoo.com.cn
Chen
Bin
B
Wang
Zhen
Z
Qiu
Xiaoyan
X
Yu
Xingguang
X
Freestone
David
D
Liu
Zhenghua
Z
Huang
Hao
H
Yu
Weiwei
W
Xu
Xianzhong
X
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011077:Polychaeta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000235:genetics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D014819:Vitellogenins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium