Effects of methoxychlor, dieldrin and lindane on sea urchin fertilization and early development

• Published in: Aquatic toxicology 2004-02, Vol.66 (3), p.225-239
• Main Authors: Pesando, Danielle, Robert, Stéphanie, Huitorel, Philippe, Gutknecht, Eric, Pereira, Lucilia, Girard, Jean-Pierre, Ciapa, Brigitte
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Dieldrin; Dieldrin - toxicity; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Early development; Echinoidea; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Egg; Female; Fertilization; Fertilization - drug effects; France; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Hexachlorocyclohexane; Insecticides; Insecticides - toxicity; Life Sciences; Lindane; Lindane - toxicity; Male; Marine; Methoxychlor; Methoxychlor - toxicity; Mitosis; Mitosis - drug effects; Ovum; Ovum - drug effects; Paracentrotus lividus; Pesticide; Sea urchin; Sea Urchins; Sea Urchins - drug effects; Sea Urchins - embryology; Sea Urchins - physiology; Seawater; Sperm; Spermatozoa; Spermatozoa - drug effects; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0166-445X; 1879-1514
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2003.09.007

We have studied the effects of methoxychlor (MXC), dieldrin, and lindane on fertilization and early development of sea urchin egg. These organochlorine pesticides have often been found in polluted ground and water near agricultural sites, and have therefore been detected from time to time in the food chain and in drinking water. They have been reported to alter various reproduction functions in various animals including marine populations. We observed that the rate of fertilization decreased when the sperm was incubated with dieldrin or lindane. Treatment of eggs with each pesticide did not prevent fertilization, but increased the rate in polyspermy, delayed or blocked the first mitotic divisions, and altered early embryonic development. Moreover, all pesticides could alter several intracellular biochemical pathways that control first mitotic divisions and early development, including intracellular calcium homeostasis, MPF (mitosis promoting factor) activity and formation of the bipolar mitotic spindle. We found that lindane was the most potent of the three pesticides to alter all biochemical events. All these effects were observed at relatively high concentrations. However, bio-accumulation in sediments and aquatic organisms have been reported. Sea urchin eggs may then be in contact with very high concentrations of these pesticides in areas where these pesticides are not handled or stocked properly, and then develop into abnormal embryos.