engleski

DNA damage in earthworm coelomocytes after in vivo exposure to heavy metals and pentachlorophenol

Ecological importance of earthworms in terrestrial ecosystems, combined with their short life cycle and simple maintenance in the laboratory makes them suitable models for soil ecotoxicity testing. DNA damage is often one of the earliest detectable signs of pollution-related toxicity, and is therefore frequently assessed endpoint in biomonitoring surveys. In this study genotoxic effect was assessed in coelomocytes of earthworm Eisenia fetida exposed in vivo to a concentration gradient of heavy metals (Cd2+, Cu2+) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) by the means of alkaline comet (single cell gel electrophoresis) assay. In order to determine differences in species sensitivity towards genotoxic influence another, more widespread earthworm species, Aporrectodea caliginosa was exposed to copper. After 24 hour exposure, clear dose response was observed in both species and for all model chemicals. Furthermore, although copper induced genotoxic effect in a dose response manner in both earthworm species, A. caliginosa showed higher sensitivity for heavy metal induced DNA damage. Our results have proved the applicability of implementing earthworms in terrestrial genotoxicity testing and confirmed the usefulness of comet assay as a suitable tool for detection of pollutants genotoxicity in earthworm coelomocytes.

DNA damage; earthworm; coelomocytes; heavy metals; PCP

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