title: Sperm exposure to carbon-based nanomaterials causes abnormalities in early development of purple sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus).
abstract: We examined egg fertilisation in purple sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) after sperm exposure to carbon-based nanomaterials, carbon black (CB) and graphene oxide (GO), from 0.0001 mg/L to 1.0mg/L. Gastrula stage embryos were investigated for acetylcholinesterase and propionylcholinesterase activities, and their morphological characteristics. Plutei were analysed for morphological abnormalities, with emphasis on skeletal rod formation. Egg fertilisation was significantly affected by CB, at all concentrations tested. Loss of cell adhesion at the gastrula surface was observed in eggs fertilised with sperm treated with CB. However, concentration-dependent morphological anomalies were observed in the gastrulae and plutei formed after sperm exposure to either CB or GO. The activities of both cholinesterases decreased in the gastrulae, although not in a concentration-dependent manner. These effects appear to arise from physical interactions between these carbon-based nanomaterials and the sperm, whereby nanomaterials attached to the sperm surface interfere with fertilisation, which leads to disturbances in the signalling pathways of early embryonic development. Reduced cholinesterase activity in gastrulae from eggs fertilised with nanomaterial-treated sperm confirms involvement of the cholinergic system in early sea urchin development, including skeletogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mesarič
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sepčić
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia; Centre of Excellence in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Damjana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drobne
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Institute Jožef Stefan, Jamova 39, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Darko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Makovec
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faimali
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morgana
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Falugi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council, Genova, Italy. Electronic address: chiagamba@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gambardella
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects; D006108:Graphite / Q000633:toxicity; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D047328:Paracentrotus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D053260:Soot / Q000633:toxicity; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010087:Oxides; D053260:Soot; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002244:Carbon; D006108:Graphite; C025181:propionylcholinesterase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002802:Cholinesterases
keywords: Acetylcholinesterase; Carbon-based nanomaterials; Development; Propionylcholinesterase; Sea urchin; Sperm