Developmental retardation, reduced fecundity, and modulated expression of the defensome in the intertidal copepod Tigriopus japonicus exposed to BDE-47 and PFOS

Abstract

2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether #BDE-47# and perfluorooctane sulfonate #PFOS# are widely dispersed persistent organic pollutants #POPs# in the marine ecosystem. However, their toxic effects on marine organisms are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of BDE-47 and PFOS on development and reproduction at the organismal level and reactive oxygen species #ROS# production and gene expression patterns of the defensome at the cellular level in the intertidal copepod Tigriopus japonicus. In copepods exposed to BDE-47 and PFOS, we observed developmental retardation and reduced fecundity, suggesting repercussions on in vivo endpoints through alterations to the normal molting and reproduction system of T. japonicus. BDE-47 and PFOS increased levels of ROS in T. japonicus in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that POPs can induce oxidative stress through the generation of ROS. Additionally, transcript profiles of genes related to detoxification #e.g., CYPs#, antioxidant functions #e.g., GST-sigma, catalase, MnSOD#, apoptosis #e.g., p53, Rb#, and cellular proliferation #e.g., PCNA# were modulated over 72 h in response to BDE-47 #120 mu g/L# and PFOS #1000 mu g/L#.These findings indicate that BDE-47 and PFOS can induce oxidative stress-mediated DNA damage repair systems with transcriptional regulation of detoxification, antioxidant, and apoptosis-related genes, resulting in developmental retardation and reduced fecundity in the copepod T. japonicus. #C# 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.