Cell damage induced by polybrominated diphenyl ethers on Chironomus sancticaroli (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Isadora De Lourdes Signorini-Souza,Luis Fernando Fávaro,Mário Antônio Navarro-Silva,Tiago Beltrão-Graboski,Angela Maria Palacio-Cortés,Vinicius Sobrinho Richardi

doi:10.1590/1806-9665-rbent-2019-50

Isadora De Lourdes Signorini-Souza, Luis Fernando Fávaro + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9665-rbent-2019-50

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Abstract

Abstract Histological effects of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were observed in Chironomus sancticaroli larvae which underwent acute exposure. 2,2′,4-triBDE (BDE-17), 2,2′,4,4′-tetraBDE (BDE-47) and 2,2′,4,4′,5-pentaBDE (BDE-99) were evaluated at 0.5, 2.0 and 20 μg L-1. Cytoplasm vacuolisation of oenocytes was observed in the larvae exposed to BDE-17 and BDE-47. Cuenot cells were disrupted at the brush border as an effect of the three evaluated congeners highlighting BDE-47 at 2.0 μg L-1; 60% of larvae displayed this disruption. The midgut showed changes in the morphology of apex cells located next to the lumen of region I exposed to BDE-17 and BDE-47, while BDE-99 induced a narrowing of the lumen diameter. Significant cytoplasm vacuolisation of the larvae exposed to BDE-47 and BDE-99 was observed in region II of the midgut. Salivary glands showed acidophilic granules in the cytoplasm exposed to BDE-17 and BDE-47. The results showed that the tissues of C. sancticaroli were sensitive to flame retardants; these histopathologies can compromise the health and physiology of this organism, highlighting the concern with the presence of PBDEs in freshwater sediments.

Highlights

IntroductionAs sediment-dwelling organisms in the larval stages, they change the structure and properties of the substrate and act as significant organic matter recyclers (Armitage et al, 1995)
Chironomidae are the most common group of insects present in freshwater habitats
The structures that evidenced some alteration after exposure to BDE-17, BDE-47 and BDE-99 were oenocytes, Cuénot cells, midgut regions and salivary glands

Summary

Introduction

As sediment-dwelling organisms in the larval stages, they change the structure and properties of the substrate and act as significant organic matter recyclers (Armitage et al, 1995) In addition to their ecological ubiquity and species richness, chironomid larvae are capable of transferring contaminants present in sediment from larvae to adults (Reinhold et al, 1999) and likewise play an important role transporting contaminants through the food web that can modify ecosystem health (Clements et al, 1994; Pérez-Fuentetaja et al, 2015; Williams et al, 2018).

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