Evaluation of ecotoxicological effects of endocrine disrupters during a four-year survey of the Mediterranean population of swordfish (Xiphias gladius)

In this project we investigated the ecotoxicological effects of endocrine disrupters in a four-year survey of the Mediterranean population of swordfish (Xiphias gladius). In the Mediterranean environment, top predators, such as swordfish, accumulate high concentrations of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs) and toxic metals, potentially incurring high toxicological risk. The effects of organochlorines and trace elements (Hg, Cd and Pb) in 192 swordfish specimens, caught in the Strait of Messina, Sicily, Italy, were investigated using vitellogenin (Vtg), zona radiata proteins (Zrp) and CYP1A (BPMO, EROD) activities. Vtg and Zrp were found to be dramatically induced in some adult male specimens, suggesting that this species is highly exposed to estrogens in the Mediterranean Sea. A role of organochlorines in this induction phenomenon is suggested by the statistically significant correlations between Zrp in plasma and PCB concentrations in muscle (p<0.032) and Vtg in plasma and PCB concentrations in liver (p<0.034) of male specimens. Levels of trace elements in liver were in the following ranges: Hg 1-22, Cd 1-28 and Pb 0-1.6 ppm d.w. These data indicate potential reproductive alterations in large pelagic fish and suggest the need for continuous monitoring to avoid reductions in the population of this fish species of high commercial and ecological interest.     

Evaluation of ecotoxicological effects of endocrine disrupters during a four-year survey of the Mediterranean population of swordfish (Xiphias gladius)

In this project we investigated the ecotoxicological effects of endocrine disrupters in a four-year survey of the Mediterranean population of swordfish (Xiphias gladius). In the Mediterranean environment, top predators, such as swordfish, accumulate high concentrations of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs) and toxic metals, potentially incurring high toxicological risk. The effects of organochlorines and trace elements (Hg, Cd and Pb) in 192 swordfish specimens, caught in the Strait of Messina, Sicily, Italy, were investigated using vitellogenin (Vtg), zona radiata proteins (Zrp) and CYP1A (BPMO, EROD) activities. Vtg and Zrp were found to be dramatically induced in some adult male specimens, suggesting that this species is highly exposed to estrogens in the Mediterranean Sea. A role of organochlorines in this induction phenomenon is suggested by the statistically significant correlations between Zrp in plasma and PCB concentrations in muscle (p<0.032) and Vtg in plasma and PCB concentrations in liver (p<0.034) of male specimens. Levels of trace elements in liver were in the following ranges: Hg 1–22, Cd 1–28 and Pb 0–1.6 ppm d.w. These data indicate potential reproductive alterations in large pelagic fish and suggest the need for continuous monitoring to avoid reductions in the population of this fish species of high commercial and ecological interest.     

Immune function, hepatic CYP1A, and reproductive biomarker responses in the gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, during dietary exposures to endocrine disrupters.

The gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, was used to determine the influence of biological rhythms on three biomarker responses. We first developed monoclonal antibodies against the model's immunoglobulins and vitellogenin in order to measure antibody responses and vitellogenesis, respectively. We then treated adults with 10, 1, 1, and 10 ppm of Aroclor 1254, tribuyltin, 3-methylcholanthrene, and nonyl-phenol, respectively, in mixtures over a 16-week period. The study followed Vibrio anguillarum-specific antibody responses, hepatic CYP1A, and plasma vitellogenin levels in the morning and again in the evening at 2-week intervals. The contaminated diet suppressed secondary antibody responses, but only in the morning. The contaminated diet also altered CYP1A, but not vitellogenesis. In addition, fish in the control group exhibited daily and seasonal differences in specific antibody levels and CYP1A induction. Moreover, circulating vitellogenin levels in control males sampled in the morning increased throughout the exposure, but remained below those of females. This study underscores the need to consider normal physiological rhythms when employing biomarkers in toxicology.     

甲壳动物神经肽的结构和功能

甲壳动物神经肽种类多样 ,广泛分布于生物体内的多种组织和器官中 ,已在窦腺中发现了 CHH/MIH/VIH肽家族 ,在围心器官、神经及其它内分泌器官中发现了甲壳动物心激肽、咽侧体抑制素相关肽、速激肽相关肽、Fa RPs、促色素细胞素等多种肽类 ,它们分别对甲壳动物的蜕皮、生殖、血糖浓度、肌肉收缩和色素的迁移等生理功能起着重要的调节作用。综述了在甲壳动物中已被发现并确定其结构的各种神经肽 (CHH/MIH/VIH肽家族除外 )的结构特点和生理功能 ,为进一步加深对神经肽的研究提供参考。     

甲壳动物造血机制研究进展

血细胞是甲壳动物的免疫细胞,可通过吞噬、包囊、结节、黑化,以及分泌免疫活性分子等方式杀死和清除入侵的病原体。活跃的造血机能对更新和补充损耗的循环血细胞、维持一个稳定有效的免疫系统是至关重要的。相对脊椎动物而言,人们对包括甲壳动物在内的无脊椎动物的造血机制了解比较有限。本文总结了近年来在甲壳动物造血机制方面的研究进展,主要介绍了血细胞的类型和功能、造血组织的结构和细胞组成、血细胞的分化途径、造血的调控机制,以及相关的细胞模型和体外实验技术等。并在此基础上分析了已有研究存在的缺陷,提出了需要进一步探究的问题。     

In vitro screening for endocrine disruptive activity in selected South African harbours and river mouths

Various waterborne anthropogenic contaminants disrupt the endocrine systems of wildlife and humans, targeting reproductive pathways, among others. Very little is known, however, regarding the occurrence of endocrine disruptive activity in South African freshwater ecosystems, and coastal ecosystems have not been studied in this regard. In a first attempt to investigate endocrine disruptive activity in South African coastal waters, surface water samples collected from harbours, river mouths and estuaries in three metropolitan municipalities, eThekwini (which includes Durban), Nelson Mandela (specifically Port Elizabeth Harbour) and City of Cape Town, were screened for (anti) oestrogenicity and (anti)androgenicity using recombinant yeast bioassays. Moreover, levels of the female hormone 17β-(o)estradiol (E2) were determined in all samples, as well as a selection of hydrocarbons in the eThekwini samples. A high proportion of samples collected from eThekwini were oestrogenic, whereas none from Port Elizabeth Harbour and only a single river mouth sampled in the City of Cape Town were oestrogenic. E2 was detected in all the samples tested, but at higher concentrations at the eThekwini and City of Cape Town localities than Port Elizabeth Harbour. In addition, the recombinant yeast assays revealed that anti-androgenicity was widespread, being detected in the majority of samples screened apart from those representing Port Elizabeth Harbour. Conversely, no anti-oestrogenic or androgenic activity was detected. Anti-androgenicity did not associate with hydrocarbon loads, providing evidence that other anti-androgens were responsible for the observed activity. The present data suggest potential reproductive disruption in marine and estuarine fauna inhabiting the eThekwini and City of Cape Town regions.     

十足类甲壳动物受精细胞学研究进展

结合作者近期的研究工作,从精卵识别、顶体反应、皮层反应、雌雄原核的形成和结合等方面综述了近年来十足类甲壳动物受精细胞学方面的研究成果,并展望了这一领域的研究与应用前景。     

壳聚糖基水凝胶对肿瘤在体内外生长的影响研究

本文介绍壳聚糖基水凝胶(CH)对肿瘤生长的影响。用MTT法检测水凝胶对Hela及SGC-7901两种肿瘤细胞体外生长增殖的影响。建立小鼠移植性肿瘤S180实体瘤模型,通过腹腔注射给药研究水凝胶的体内抑瘤效果。结果表明水凝胶能轻微抑制肿瘤细胞的体外生长,提高荷瘤小鼠免疫器官指数和细胞因子水平,显著抑制荷瘤小鼠体内肿瘤组织的生长。说明壳聚糖基水凝胶对肿瘤在体内外的生长具有一定抑制作用。     

甲壳动物促雄性腺激素研究进展

1947年Cronin首次报道了软甲亚纲雄蓝蟹（Callinectes sapidus）具有促雄性腺（Androgenic gland,AG）,直至1954年Chamiaux-Cotton才第一次阐明促雄性腺在端足类跳沟虾（Orchestia gammarella）的功能,促雄性腺可以控制雄性生殖系统的分化。半世纪的研究,在甲壳动物促雄性腺的形态结构、发生和发育以及神经内分泌调控的方面取得了很大的进展。     

石斑鱼肠道原籍嗜冷杆菌( PsychrobacterSP.)SE6作为益生菌的体内外评价

研究了石斑鱼肠道原籍嗜冷杆菌SE6在体外的抑菌特性及对人工胃肠液的耐受特性,在此基础上研究了饲料中添加SE6(108CFU/g)对斜带石斑鱼生长性能和免疫功能的影响。体外试验结果表明:SE6对副溶血弧菌、哈维氏弧菌、梅氏弧菌和金黄色葡萄球菌等常见水产致病菌均有一定的抑制作用。pH为4.0的人工胃液能促进SE6的生长,处理2和4 h存活率分别为110.7%和173.0%;pH为3.0的人工胃液处理2 h后活菌数为1.59×105 CFU/cm3,存活率为1.36%,但SE6不能耐受pH为2.0的人工胃液。经浓度分别为0.1%,0.3%,0.5%和0.7%的胆盐处理3 h后,SE6的存活率分别为89.17%,88.33%,77.17%和12.33%。动物试验结果显示:投喂SE6 60 d后试验组饵料系数(0.95±0.01)显著低于对照组(1.03±0.02)。试验组血清补体C3在试验全期均高于对照组,补体C4含量在投喂SE6 60 d时显著上升。血清IgM含量在投喂30 d时显著上升。总之,嗜冷杆菌SE6能抑制多种常见病原菌的生长,而且对模拟胃肠道环境具有一定的耐受能力,添加到饲料中能显著提高石斑鱼饵料利用率,增强动物的免疫功能。     

In vivo and in vitro biomineralization in the presence of the inner-shell film of pearl oyster

The inner shell surface is the biomineralization site in shell formation and an inner-shell film covers it.This surface is composed of two regions:an outer calcitic region and an inner aragonitic region.In this study,some amalgamated calcite crystals were found in the calcitic region and some aragonitic "imprints" were found in the central part of the aragonitic region.The "imprints" are probably the trace of mantle cells that adhered to the inner shell surface when the shell was produced.Furthermore,to build a novel in vitro biomineralization system,the inner-shell film was detached from the shell and introduced to the calcitic crystallization solution.Crystallization experiments showed that nacre proteins could induce aragonite crystals in the novel system but inhibited calcite growth in the absence of the inner-shell film.These data suggested that the inner-shell film may induce aragonite growth in vivo by combining nacre proteins.     

In vivo and in vitro effects of benzothiazole on sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus).

Benzothiazole, a common chemical associated with tire manufacturing and industrial wastewater, is a principal component of both fresh water and estuarine tire leachate, a neurotoxicant to larval sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) in in vivo estuarine studies. The neurotoxic potential of benzothiazole was investigated following in vivo and in vitro exposure of sheepshead minnows to 3.75, 7.5, 15, 30 and 60 mg/l benzothiazole. Following benzothiazole exposure, fish were evaluated for survival, growth and histological alterations. Fish mortality occurred after 5 days of exposure to 60 mg/l (LC50 = 41.9). Significant decreases in larval growth were noted at all concentrations. Histologically, gills had cellular alterations but the central nervous system lacked the severe cellular damage seen in previous tire leachate exposure studies. Benzothiazole cytotoxicity to primary cultures of brain cells from sheepshead minnow and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and two epithelial cell lines was evaluated using a tetrazolium salt assay (MTT) at 1 and 4 days. In vitro results indicate primary cultures of brain cells are less sensitive to benzothiazole than epithelial cell lines. Significant cytotoxicity to the epithelial cell lines was noted at 30 and 60 mg/l concentrations. Histologically and cytotoxicologically, the present study indicates that benzothiazole is a gill toxicant and not a neurotoxicant.     

甲壳动物精子生物学的研究进展(英文)

甲壳动物精子生物学的研究对于甲壳动物的人工繁育及遗传育种等工作有重要意义。本文归纳了甲壳动物精子生物学的最新研究进展,包括精子的形态结构、发生、活力、体外保存及顶体反应等方面,并对该领域今后的研究方向提出了展望。     

Eff ects of temperature on photosynthetic performance and nitrate reductase activity in vivo assay in Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis (Rhodophyta)

Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis is an economically-valued species and widely cultured in China at present.After being acclimated to diff erent growth temperatures(15,20,25,and 30°C)for 7 days,the relative growth rate(RGR),nitrate reductase activity,soluble protein content and chlorophyll a fl uorescence of G.lemaneiformis were examined.Results show that RGR was markedly aff ected by temperature especially at 20°C at which G.lemaneiformis exhibited the highest eff ective quantum yield of PSII[Y(II)]and lightsaturated electron transport rate(ETR max),but the lowest non-photochemical quenching.Irrespective of growth temperature,the nitrate reductase activity increased with the incubation temperature from 15 to 30°C.In addition,the greatest nitrate reductase activity was found in the thalli grown at 20°C.The value of temperature coeffi cient Q10 of alga cultured in 15°C was the greatest among those of other temperatures tested.Results indicate that the optimum temperature for nitrate reductase synthesis was relatively lower than that for nitrate reductase activity,and the relationship among growth,photosynthesis,and nitrate reductase activity showed that the optimum temperature for activity of nitrate reductase in vivo assay should be the same to the optimal growth temperature.     

Preliminary assessment of crustacean distribution patterns in New Zealand groundwater aquifers

Crustaceans were sampled in 17 groundwater wells at five locations in North and South Islands of New Zealand. Three sampling locations were associated with unconfined aquifers adjacent to gravel‐bed rivers, whereas the other two locations were distant from rivers, but associated with land‐based sewage effluent disposal sites. Crustaceans and basic physico‐chemical parameters were sampled in summer and winter. Total abundance varied from 1 to 1064 individuals/250 litre sample. Copepods dominated the fauna at four of the five locations, and were most abundant immediately downstream of a sewage effluent disposal area. Paraleptamphopus spp. (Amphipoda) was found at all five locations, and abundance was also greatest downstream of sewage effluent disposal areas. Several crustacean taxa were rare or limited in distribution, including the gammarid Paracrangonyx sp. and the anthurid isopod Cruregens sp. Syncarids were widely distributed, but found in low numbers, and no specimens were found immediately below sewage effluent disposal areas. We suggest that groundwater ecology in New Zealand is restricted by lack of knowledge of taxonomy and ecology of key groups, particularly the Copepoda.     

重金属对几种海洋双壳类和甲壳类生物的毒性

研究了重金属和污染疏浚物对缢蛏Ｓｉｎｏｎｕａｃｕｌａ ｃｏｎｓｔｒｉｃｔａ稚贝和幼贝，褶牡蛎Ｏｓｔｒｅａ ｐｌｉｃａｔｕｌａ幼虫，甲壳类的卤虫Ａｒｔｅｍｉａｓｐ．幼体和长毛对虾Ｐｅｎａｅｕｓｐｅｎｃｉｌｌａｔｕｓ幼体的毒性，结果表明受试生物的生长，摄食，存活均受到不同程度的影响。各重金属元素对褶牡蛎幼虫，卤虫无节细，长毛对虾糖虾期的毒性顺序为Ｈｇ＾２＾＋＞Ｃｕ＾２＾＋＞Ｚｎ＾２＾＋＞Ｃｄ＾２＾＋＞     

十足类甲壳动物精子发生过程中细胞器变化及作用研究进展

结合作者的研究,综述了近年来甲壳动物精子发生的细胞学研究进展,对高尔基体、线粒体、内质网、中心体及溶酶体等几种主要细胞器在精子发生中的作用作了分析,并就目前研究的现状,提出了今后的研究方向。     

Effects of sewage-impacted sediment on reproduction in the benthic crustacean Leptocheirus plumulosus

Several organic contaminants in sewage effluent have been shown to elicit an estrogenic response in juvenile fish. Comparatively little emphasis has been placed on assessing these effects in marine invertebrates, particularly benthic organisms inhabiting sediment where lipophilic contaminants tend to persist. The present study examined reproductive effects in the benthic crustacean Leptocheirus plumulosus exposed to sewage-impacted sediment from Jamaica Bay, New York. Data from chronic 28-day tests showed a 50% reduction in the average number of young (juveniles + embryos) produced per surviving female in exposures to sediment from Jamaica Bay (JB). Nonylphenol ethoxylate ('NPEO) concentrations at this site were measured at 44.2 microg/g dw, concentrations two orders of magnitude higher than reference site concentrations in central Long Island Sound (CLIS). Dose-response studies with nonylphenol (NP) amended reference sediment, however, did not significantly affect reproduction suggesting that other contaminants may have contributed to the effects observed.     

Behaviour of some New Zealand sea anemones and their molluscan and crustacean hosts

The sea anemones Calliactis conchicola Parry, 1952 and Paracalliactis rosea Hand, 1975, which live associated with gastropods, hermit crabs, and true crabs, possess mounting responses similar to those known for several species of Calliactis. In some areas of New Zealand Calliactis conchicola occurs most abundantly on living gastropods and in others on gastropod shells occupied by hermit crabs. No behaviour by either the gastropod or the hermit crabs was observed which explains this differential distribution. One hermit crab stimulates Paracalliactis rosea to mount its shell by a regular tapping of the anemone with its chelae or dactyls, but ignores Calliactis conchicola. Several other hermit crabs, which may be found carrying these anemones, do not stimulate them to mount. The spider crab Leptomithrax longipes may be found in nature carrying specimens of four kinds of anemones: Calliactis conchicola, Paracalliactis rosea, Bunodactis chrysobathys, and Phellia aucklandica. This crab prises these anemones from most substrates with its chelae, cleans them with its mouth parts, and places them on its legs and carapace with its chelae. From observation, Calliactis conchicola apparently protects this crab from octopus predatiori, but not from other predators such as small sharks. Though associations of anemones with hermit crabs and other invertebrates are usually considered to be commensal, it seems likely that these associations may be mutualistic.