title: Developmental abnormalities and neurotoxicological effects of CuO NPs on the black sea urchin Arbacia lixula by embryotoxicity assay.
abstract: The embryotoxicity of CuO NPs was evaluated in the black sea urchin Arbacia lixula embryos, by using 24-well plates. Fertilized eggs were exposed to five doses of CuO NPs ranging from 0.07 to 20 ppb, until pluteus stage. CuO NPs suspensions in artificial seawater formed agglomerates of 80-200 nm size, and copper uptake was 2.5-fold up in larvae exposed to high NP concentrations in respect to control. Developmental delay and morphological alteration, including skeletal abnormalities, were observed, as well as impairment in cholinergic and serotonergic nervous systems. These findings suggest the potential of CuO NPs to interfere with the normal neurotransmission pathways, thus affecting larval morphogenesis. Overall, the embryotoxicity tests are effective for evaluation of nanoparticle effects on the health of aquatic biota. Furthermore, as the black sea urchin A. lixula demonstrated to be vulnerable to NP exposure, it may be a valid bioindicator in marine biomonitoring and ecotoxicological programmes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: mmaisano@unime.it.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maisano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cappello
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Catanese
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Natalotto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannetto
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barreca
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brunelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mauceri
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fasulo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047308:Arbacia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper; C030973:cupric oxide
keywords: Acetylcholinesterase; CuO nanoparticles; Developmental abnormality; Embriotoxicity test; Embryos; Larvae; Sea urchin; Serotonin