title: Embryotoxicity and spermiotoxicity of nanosized ZnO for Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus.
abstract: The effect of nano ZnO (nZnO) upon the fertilization and early development of embryos of the Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus is reported herein for the first time. Zn ion (ZnCl2) and bulk ZnO (bZnO) toxicity were assessed for comparison. The embryotoxicity tests showed a 100% effect already at 1 μM of nZnO (expressed as [Zn]) while bZnO and ZnCl2 showed EC50s of 0.98 [0.88-1.19] μM [Zn] and 2.02 [1.97-2.09] μM [Zn], respectively. Noteworthy, the frequency of developmental defects for the three compounds was dissimilar and a specific trend for larval skeletal abnormality produced by nZnO was observed. The sperm fertilization capability was only slightly affected by the tested chemicals while the effects were dramatic on the offspring quality of sperms exposed to ZnO compounds resulting in an early block of the regular larval development. ZnO toxicity seems related not only to Zinc ions but also to some surface interactions of particle/aggregates with target organisms and/or with the seawater.
authors.affiliation: Enea CR Portici. P.le E. Fermi, 1, 80055 - Portici, Naples Italy. Electronic address: sonia.manzo@enea.it.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manzo
authors.affiliation: Enea CR Portici. P.le E. Fermi, 1, 80055 - Portici, Naples Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Lucia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Miglietta
authors.affiliation: Enea CR Portici. P.le E. Fermi, 1, 80055 - Portici, Naples Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rametta
authors.affiliation: Università degli studi di Napoli "Federico II". Parco Gussone 1. 80055 - Portici, Naples Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buono
authors.affiliation: Enea CR Portici. P.le E. Fermi, 1, 80055 - Portici, Naples Italy.
authors.forename: Girolamo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Francia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D047328:Paracentrotus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D015034:Zinc Oxide