title: Comparative toxicities of selected rare earth elements: Sea urchin embryogenesis and fertilization damage with redox and cytogenetic effects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Broad-ranging adverse effects are known for rare earth elements (REE), yet only a few studies tested the toxicity of several REE, prompting studies focusing on multi-parameter REE toxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trichloride salts of Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd were tested in Paracentrotus lividus sea urchin embryos and sperm for: (1) developmental defects in either REE-exposed larvae or in the offspring of REE-exposed sperm; (2) fertilization success; (3) mitotic anomalies in REE-exposed embryos and in the offspring of REE-exposed sperm, and (4) reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  REEs affected P. lividus larvae with concentration-related increase in developmental defects, 10(-6) to 10(-4)M, ranking as: Gd(III)>Y(III)>La(III)>Nd(III)≅Eu(III)>Ce(III)≅Sm(III). Nominal concentrations of REE salts were confirmed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Significant increases in MDA levels, ROS formation, and NO levels were found in REE-exposed embryos. Sperm exposure to REEs (10(-5) to 10(-4)M) resulted in concentration-related decrease in fertilization success along with increase in offspring damage. Decreased mitotic activity and increased aberration rates were detected in REE-exposed embryos and in the offspring of REE-exposed sperm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  REE-associated toxicity affecting embryogenesis, fertilization, cytogenetic and redox endpoints showed different activities of tested REEs. Damage to early life stages, along with redox and cytogenetic anomalies should be the focus of future REE toxicity studies.
authors.affiliation: "Federico II" University of Naples, Environmental Hygiene, I-80126 Naples, Italy. Electronic address: gbpagano@tin.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pagano
authors.affiliation: "Federico II" University of Naples, Environmental Hygiene, I-80126 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.affiliation: "Federico II" University of Naples, Environmental Hygiene, I-80126 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siciliano
authors.affiliation: Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, TR-35100 Bornova, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Rahime
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oral
authors.affiliation: Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, TR-45140 Yunusemre, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Koçbaş
authors.affiliation: Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.affiliation: Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Immacolata
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.affiliation: Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Oriana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Migliaccio
authors.affiliation: Environment Canada, Science & Technology Branch, National Wildlife Research Center - Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3.
authors.forename: Philippe J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: "Federico II" University of Naples, Department of Chemical Sciences, I-80126 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trifuoggi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects*; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D047328:Paracentrotus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D008674:Metals, Rare Earth
keywords: Cytogenetic anomalies; Rare earth elements; Redox endpoints; SEA urchins