Physiological and molecular responses of the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) to soil chlortetracycline contamination

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2012-12, Vol.171, p.46-51
• Main Authors: Lin, Dasong, Zhou, Qixing, Xu, Yingming, Chen, Chun, Li, Ye
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Annelida and closely related phyla: sipuncula. Echiura. Nemertinea; Anti-Bacterial Agents - toxicity; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarker; catalase; Catalase - metabolism; Chlortetracycline; Chlortetracycline - toxicity; DNA; DNA damage; earthworms; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Eisenia fetida; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gel electrophoresis; General aspects; Genotoxicity; glutathione transferase; Glutathione Transferase - metabolism; Invertebrates; lipid peroxidation; malondialdehyde; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; Oligochaeta; Oxidative stress; physiological response; soil; Soil - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Soil pollution; Stress, Physiological; superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Terrestrial environment, soil, air
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.07.020

This study aims to evaluate toxic effects of exposure to chlortetracycline (CTC) in soil on reproductive endpoints (juvenile counts and cocoon counts), biochemical responses, and genotoxic potentials of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Results showed that juvenile counts and cocoon counts of the tested earthworms were reduced after exposure to CTC. The effective concentrations (EC50 values) for juvenile and cocoon counts were 96.1 and 120.3 mg/kg, respectively. Treatment of earthworms with CTC significantly changed the activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST). An increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) indicated that CTC could cause cellular lipid peroxidation in the tested earthworms. The percentage of DNA in the tail of single-cell gel electrophoresis of coelomocytes as an indication of DNA damage increased after treatment with different doses of CTC, and a dose-dependent DNA damage of coelomocytes was found. In conclusion, CTC induces physiological responses and genotoxicity on earthworms. ► Reproductive endpoints were assessed for Eisenia fetida exposed to chlortectracyline (CTC). ► CTC may induce physiological and molecular responses in E. fetida. ► A clear relationship was observed between CTC doses and DNA damage of coelomocytes. Chlortetracycline in soil could induce physiological responses and genotoxicity on earthworms at realistic environmental concentrations.