G. Pagano et al., CYTOGENETIC, DEVELOPMENTAL, AND BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF ALUMINUM, IRON, AND THEIR MIXTURE IN SEA-URCHINS AND MUSSELS, Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology, 31(4), 1996, pp. 466-474
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the toxicity of aluminum
sulfate, ferric chloride and their 1:1 mixture (Mix) on early developm
ent, fertilization and offspring quality in three sea urchins species
(Sphaerechinus granularis, Paracentrotus lividus, Psammechinus microtu
berculatus) and in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis). The endpoints
were the following: a) larval malformations; b) developmental arrest;
cf embryonic mortality; d) fertilization success; e) cytogenetic effec
ts, and f) luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (LDCL). Overall data po
int to the induction of developmental defects in both sea urchin and m
ussel embryos following exposure of embryos to Al(III) or Fe(III) (10(
-7) to 10(-6) M), whereas Mix caused varied effects vs. Al(III) or Fe(
III) alone, from scarce or no additive effects (M. galloprovincialis a
nd P. lividus) to a dramatic rise in embryolethality even at nominal l
evels of 10(-8) M (Ps. microtuberculus). S. granularis sperm underwent
a dose-dependent decrease in fertilization success following exposure
to Al(III), or Fe(III), or Mix at levels ranging from 10(-8) to 10(-5
) M. A significant increase of developmental defects was observed in t
he offspring of S. granularis sperm exposed to micromolar levels of th
e agents, suggesting an Al(III)- and Fe(III)-related transmissible dam
age to sperm. The cytogenetic analysis of Al(III)-, Fe(III)-, or Mix-e
xposed S. granularis embryos showed a significant increase in mitotic
aberrations. A relevant feature of the observed cytogenetic damage inc
luded scattered chromosomes, suggesting cytoskeleton damage. The LDCL
emission in S. granularis embryos showed a dose-related inhibition by
agent levels ranging from 10(-1) to 10(-5) M; this held true for both
spontaneous and, to a larger extent, for horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-
activated LDCL. LDCL associated with fertilization was affected by Al(
III), Fe(III) and Mix, with a time- and dose-related shift from stimul
ation to inhibition. The changes observed in LDCL emission suggested t
hat the observed damage to embryogenesis, fertilization and mitotic ac
tivity may be related, at least partly, to alterations of the embryo p
rooxidant state. The present data point to developmental, cytogenetic
and biochemical changes related to realistic levels of AI(III), Fe(III
) and their mixtures, raising concern as to their environmental, occup
ational and iatrogenic exposures.