Abstract
Background:Acute high dose exposure to teratogenic chemicals alters the proper development of an embryo leading to infertility, impaired fecundity, and few viable offspring. However, chronic exposure to sub-toxic doses of teratogens during early development may also have long-term impacts on egg quality and embryo viability. Methods:To test the hypothesis that low dose exposure during early development can impact long-term reproductive health, Caenorhabditis elegans larvae were exposed to 10 teratogens during larval development, and subsequently were examined for the pattern of egg-laying and egg quality (hatched larvae and embryo viability) as gravid adults. After the exposure, adult gravid worms were transferred to untreated plates and the numbers of eggs laid were recorded every 3 hours, and the day following exposure the numbers of hatched larvae were counted. Results:While fecundity and fertility were typically impaired by teratogens, unexpectedly, many teratogens initially increased egg-laying at the earliest interval compared to control but not at later intervals. However, egg quality, as assessed by embryo viability, remained the same because many of the eggs (<50%) did not hatch. Conclusions:Chronic, low dose exposures to teratogens during early larval development have subtle, long-term effects on egg laying and egg quality.
Highlights
Teratogens are agents that negatively impact reproduction and embryonic development and include radiation, maternal infections, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals (Wilson, 1973)
Fecundity and fertility, measures of reproductive fitness of the organism, were decreased after worms were exposed to the biocides, triclosan and fenthion, and combustion pollutant, benzoα-pyrene (BAP; Χ2= 11.27, 5.21, and 83.1, p
Many teratogens, except for arsenic and benzo-α-pyrene, produced more eggs during the 0–3 hours interval compared to vehicle (Figure 3B), this interval had the overall lowest yield of eggs
Summary
Teratogens are agents that negatively impact reproduction and embryonic development and include radiation, maternal infections, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals (Wilson, 1973). We used egg-laying, hatching, and offspring viability assays phenotyping screen throughout early development after exposing Caenorhabditis elegans to sub-lethal doses from in three classes of teratogens, including biocides, endocrine disruptors, and combustion pollutants, to detect impacts on reproductive phenotype in adults. Chronic exposure to sub-toxic doses of teratogens during early development may have long-term impacts on egg quality and embryo viability. Methods: To test the hypothesis that low dose exposure during early development can impact long-term reproductive health, Caenorhabditis elegans larvae were exposed to 10 teratogens during larval development, and subsequently were examined for the pattern of egg-laying and egg quality (hatched larvae and embryo viability) as gravid adults. Conclusions: Chronic, low dose exposures to teratogens during early larval development have subtle, long-term effects on egg laying and egg quality
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