title: Lipophilic contaminants influence cold tolerance of invertebrates through changes in cell membrane fluidity.
abstract: Contaminants taken up by living organisms in the environment as a result of anthropogenic contamination can reduce the tolerance of natural stressors, e.g., low temperatures, but the physiological mechanisms behind these interactions of effects are poorly understood. The tolerance to low temperatures of organisms that cannot regulate their body temperature (ectotherms) depends on their ability to increase the fluidity of their cellular membranes at low temperatures. Our study shows that contaminants accumulating in lipids of organisms alter the physical state of their membranes simply by being present. Contaminants of varying chemical structures can alter the membrane fluidity in either direction and correspondingly modulate the cold tolerance of intact animals.
authors: Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University , Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Holmstrup
authors: Hélène
authors: H
authors: Bouvrais
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Westh
authors: Chunhua
authors: C
authors: Wang
authors: Stine
authors: S
authors: Slotsbo
authors: Dorthe
authors: D
authors: Waagner
authors: Kirsten
authors: K
authors: Enggrob
authors: John H
authors: JH
authors: Ipsen
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000633:toxicity*; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D044367:Phase Transition / Q000187:drug effects; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000633:toxicity; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil; D044366:Transition Temperature
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008055:Lipids; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D010636:Phenols; D010743:Phospholipids; D012987:Soil; C031181:phenanthrene; C041594:4-nonylphenol