title: Molecular and ultrastructural insights into the earthworm Eisenia fetida of the assessment of ecotoxicity during colistin exposure.
abstract: Colistin is a peptide antibiotic widely used as a feed additive in animal farming, especially in poultry and swine production, for treatment and prevention of gram-negative bacterial infections, as well as for growth promotion use. When orally ingested, colistin is poorly absorbed and is eliminated almost unaltered by the enteric canal into the environment. Thus, risk of environmental toxicity cannot be ignored. In the present study, we examined the effects of colistin on Heath Shock Protein (HSP) 70, metallothionein (MT) gene expressions, and the ultrastructure of intestinal cells, following treatment of the soil indicator earthworm Eisenia fetida with 10, 20, and 100 mg/kg colistin for 7, 14, and 21 days. The results showed that, compared with the control, the expressions of HSP70 and MT genes changed significantly. Colistin caused up-regulations of HSP70's expression while inhibited the expression of MT gene. In addition, most mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum were damaged in the group treated with high concentration. The investigation of gene expressions of HSP70 and MT, as well as pathological alterations in the intestinal cells, may provide important information in terms of ecotoxicity of colistin and can be used as early warning system.
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ruizi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xueyao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Xiaoxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Shangji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yongxue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003091:Colistin / Q000633:toxicity*; D015870:Gene Expression; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D013552:Swine; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D008668:Metallothionein; D003091:Colistin