[Biological toxicity of heavy metals to Caenorhabditis elegans].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the biological toxicity of heavy metals by using Caenorhabditis elegans.


METHODS
The C. elegans at L4 stage were exposed to CdCl, CrCl3, As2O3, PbCh2, HgCl2 with low concentrations and M9 buffer (the control group) for 72 h, respectively, and the effects of heavy metals with different concentrations on the survival time and reproduction of C. elegans were evaluated.


RESULTS
After exposure to 2.5, 10 µmol/L HgCl2 and PbCl2, 10 µmol/L CdCl2, and 50 µmol/L CrCl3 for 72 h, respectively, the life spans and survival curves of the C. elegans were different from those in the control group, the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). After exposure to CdCl2, CrCl3, As2O3, PbCl2 and HgCl2 with the con- centrations of 2.5, 50, 100 µmol/L for 72 h, respectively, the generational time and brood size of C. elegans were all different from those in the control group (all P < 0.01). Among the 5 heavy metals at low concentrations, the reproduction toxicity of Hg was bigger than Pb, Cd, Cr, and the toxicity of As was the weakest.


CONCLUSIONS
Heavy metal exposure can affect the life span and reproductive toxicity of C. elegans.
Yue-e
YE
Huang
Nan
N
Zhang
Yu-xin
YX
Jiang
Wei
W
Guo
Chao-pin
CP
Li
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000633:toxicity*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects
D019216:Metals, Heavy