title: Effects of dioxin exposure in Eisenia andrei: integration of biomarker data by an Expert System to rank the development of pollutant-induced stress syndrome in earthworms.
abstract: A battery of biomarkers has recently been developed in the earthworm Eisenia andrei. In this study, different biomarkers (i.e. Ca²⁺-ATPase activity, lysosomal membrane stability-LMS, lysosomal lipofuscin and neutral lipid content) were utilized to evaluate the alterations in the physiological status of animals, induced by exposure for 3d to different sublethal concentrations of TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) (1.5 × 10⁻³, 1.5 × 10⁻², 1.5×10⁻¹ ng mL⁻¹) utilizing the paper contact toxicity test. Lysosome/cytoplasm volume ratio and DNA damage were also evaluated as a biomarker at the tissue level and as a biomarker of genotoxicity, respectively. Moreover, the NR retention time assay conditions were optimized for the determination of in vivo LMS in earthworm coelomocytes. The results demonstrate that LMS and Ca²⁺-ATPase activity were early warning biomarkers able to detect the effects of minimal amounts of TCDD and that biomarkers evaluated at the tissue level are important for following the evolution of the stress syndrome in earthworms. To evaluate the health status of the animals, an Earthworm Expert System (EES) for biomarker data integration and interpretation was developed. The EES proved to be a suitable tool able to rank, objectively, the different levels of the stress syndrome in E. andrei induced by the different concentrations of TCDD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Life Sciences (DiSAV), University of Piemonte Orientale A. Avogadro , Via T. Michel 11, 15121 Alessandria, Italy.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sforzini
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dagnino
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oliveri
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Canesi
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viarengo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004147:Dioxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000379:methods*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005103:Expert Systems; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000378:metabolism; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009499:Neutral Red / Q000378:metabolism; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008062:Lipofuscin; D009499:Neutral Red; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases