title: Effects of selected metal oxide nanoparticles on Artemia salina larvae: evaluation of mortality and behavioural and biochemical responses.
abstract: The aim was to investigate the toxicity of selected metal oxide nanoparticles (MO-NPs) on the brine shrimp Artemia salina, by evaluating mortality and behavioural and biochemical responses. Larvae were exposed to tin(IV) oxide (stannic oxide (SnO2)), cerium(IV) oxide (CeO2) and iron(II, III) oxide (Fe3O4) NPs for 48 h in seawater, with MO-NP suspensions from 0.01 to 1.0 mg/mL. Mortality and behavioural responses (swimming speed alteration) and enzymatic activities of cholinesterase, glutathione-S-transferase and catalase were evaluated. Although the MO-NPs did not induce any mortality of the larvae, they caused changes in behavioural and biochemical responses. Swimming speed significantly decreased in larvae exposed to CeO2 NPs. Cholinesterase and glutathione-S-transferase activities were significantly inhibited in larvae exposed to SnO2 NPs, whereas cholinesterase activity significantly increased after CeO2 NP and Fe3O4 NP exposure. Catalase activity significantly increased in larvae exposed to Fe3O4 NPs. In conclusion, swimming alteration and cholinesterase activity represent valid endpoints for MO-NP exposure, while glutathione-S-transferase and catalase activities appear to be NP-specific.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council, Via De Marini 6, 16149, Genoa, Italy, chiara.gambardella@ge.ismar.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gambardella
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mesarič
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Milivojević
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sepčić
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gallus
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrando
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faimali
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D010087:Oxides / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010087:Oxides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002374:Catalase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase