title: Toxicity of tributyltin (TBT) to the freshwater planarian Schmidtea mediterranea.
abstract: The freshwater planarian Schmidtea mediterranea, one of the best characterized animal models for regeneration research and developmental biology, is being recognised as a useful species for ecotoxicological studies. Sensitive endpoints related to planarians' behaviour and regeneration can be easily evaluated after exposure to environmental stressors. In this work the sensitivity of S. mediterranea to a gradient of environmentally relevant concentrations of TBT was studied using multiple endpoints like survival, locomotion, head regeneration and DNA damage. In addition, a feeding assay based on planarian's predatory behaviour was performed. Results indicated that TBT is toxic to planarians with LC50's of 1.87 μg L(-1) Sn and 1.31 μg L(-1) Sn at 48 h and 96 h of exposure respectively. Sub-lethal exposures to TBT significantly reduced locomotion and feeding, delayed head regeneration and caused DNA damage in planarians. The behavioural endpoints (feeding and locomotion) and head regeneration were the most sensitive parameters followed by DNA damage. Similar to other aquatic model organisms, S. mediterranea showed high sensitivity towards TBT exposure. Based on our results, and though further research is required concerning their sensitivity to other pollutants, the use of freshwater planarians as a model species in ecotoxicology is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Biology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Pearl U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Ofoegbu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fátima C P
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Simão
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sónia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mendo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Amadeu M V M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: jpestana@ua.pt.
authors.forename: João L T
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pestana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004249:DNA Damage; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D006257:Head / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D010932:Planarians / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C011559:tributyltin
keywords: Behavioural endpoints; Genotoxicity; Regeneration; Schmidtea mediterranea; Tributyltin toxicity