THE USE OF BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR BIOMARKERS TO ASSESS THE EFFECTS OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTOR COMPOUNDS IN SOIL ORGANISMS. LINKING LABORATORY TO FIELD EXPOSURE

Publications

Protein differential expression induced by endocrine disrupting compounds in a terrestrial isopod

Publication . Lemos, Marco F. L.; Esteves, Ana Cristina; Samyn, Bart; Timperman, Isaak; van Beeumen, Jozef; Correia, António; van Gestel, Cornelis A. M.; Soares, Amadeu M. V. M.

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) have been studied due to their impact on human health and increasing awareness of their impact on wildlife species. Studies concerning the organ-specific molecular effects of EDC in invertebrates are important to understand the mechanisms of action of this class of toxicants but are scarce in the literature. We have used a dose/response approach to unravel the protein expression in different organs of isopods exposed to bisphenol A (BPA) and vinclozolin (Vz) and assess their potential use as surrogate species. Male isopods were exposed to a range of Vz or of BPA concentrations. After animal dissection, proteins were extracted from gut, hepatopancreas and testes. Protein profiles were analysed by electrophoresis and differentially expressed proteins were identified by MALDI mass spectrometry. EDCs affected proteins involved in the energy metabolism (arginine kinase), proteins of the heat shock protein family (Hsp70 and GRP78) and most likely microtubule dynamics (tubulin). Different proteins expressed at different concentrations in different organs are indicative of the organ-specific effects of BPA and Vz. Additionally, several proteins were up-regulated at lower but not higher BPA or Vz concentrations, bringing new data to the non-monotonic response curve controversy. Furthermore, our findings suggest that some common responses to EDCs in both vertebrates and invertebrates may exist.

2010-04Journal article

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Reproductive toxicity of the endocrine disrupters vinclozolin and bisphenol A in the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber (Latreille, 1804)

Publication . Lemos, M. F. L.; van Gestel, C. A. M.; Soares, A. M. V. M.

Endocrine Disruptor Compounds (EDCs) have been largely studied concerning their effects on vertebrates. Nevertheless, invertebrates as targets for these chemicals have been neglected and few studies are available. Specifically for edaphic invertebrates, data concerning the effects of EDCs is residual. Influences of EDCs on the reproduction systems of these organisms, with consequences at the population level, are expected but have not been confirmed. This work aimed to study the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) and vinclozolin (Vz) on the reproduction of the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber. Isopods were coupled and exposed to increasing concentrations of Vz and BPA and the females' reproductive cycle followed for 56 d. Both compounds elicited reproductive toxicity. Vz and BPA decreased female reproductive allocation. Vz reduced pregnancy duration; increased the abortion percentage; decreased the number of pregnancies; and decreased the number of juveniles per female while BPA increased abortions at the lowest and highest test concentrations. The reproductive endpoints presented in here are indicative of the possible impact that this type of compounds might have on isopod population dynamics, which may eventually lead to population decline.

2010-02Journal article

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