title: Suitability of cytotoxicity endpoints and test microalgal species to disclose the toxic effect of common aquatic pollutants.
abstract: Pulse discharges of chemicals to aquatic environments may lead to high concentrations of them in surface waters for short periods of time, but enough to induce toxic effects on aquatic organisms; however, no many methods allow an early warning of toxicity of these agents. Acute effects of one representative chemical from each of three of the main groups of aquatic pollutants (pesticides, metals and pharmaceuticals) are studied on two green microalgal species (Chlamydomonas moewusii and Chlorella vulgaris). Flow cytometry protocols were used to detect the potential application of chlorophyll a fluorescent emission, cell viability, metabolic activity and membrane potential as cytotoxicity endpoints, besides an epifluorescence microscopy protocol for comet assay to detect genotoxicity level of cells. Obtained results confirm the suitability of them for the prospective assessment of the potential cytotoxicity of these aquatic pollutants. The two microalgal species analysed could be used as indicators in toxicity bioassays, being C. moewusii more sensitive than C. vulgaris. Among cell parameters assayed, the metabolic activity and the primary DNA damage stood out as sensitive cytotoxicity endpoints.
authors: Laboratorio de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de A Coruña, Campus de A Zapateira s/n, 15008A Coruña, Spain.
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Prado
authors: Laboratorio de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de A Coruña, Campus de A Zapateira s/n, 15008A Coruña, Spain.
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: García
authors: Laboratorio de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de A Coruña, Campus de A Zapateira s/n, 15008A Coruña, Spain.
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Rioboo
authors: Laboratorio de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de A Coruña, Campus de A Zapateira s/n, 15008A Coruña, Spain.
authors: Concepción
authors: C
authors: Herrero
authors: Laboratorio de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de A Coruña, Campus de A Zapateira s/n, 15008A Coruña, Spain. Electronic address: angeles.cid@udc.es.
authors: Ángeles
authors: Á
authors: Cid
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002696:Chlamydomonas / Q000187:drug effects*; D048408:Chlorella vulgaris / Q000187:drug effects*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000737:chemistry; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D020552:Comet Assay; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008670:Metals / Q000633:toxicity; D058086:Microalgae / Q000187:drug effects; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D003603:Cytotoxins; D008670:Metals; D010575:Pesticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002734:Chlorophyll; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
keywords: Cytotoxicity; Flow cytometry; Metals; Microalga; Pesticides; Pharmaceuticals