Publication Date:
2016-04-26
Description:
Vinclozolin (VZ) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that is able to interact with the endocrine system of mammalian models directly via receptor-binding and indirectly via the epigenetic regulation of DNA methylation. Gastropods often respond sensitively to chemicals classified as endocrine disrupting chemicals, but information on epigenetics is almost absent for this group. In order to investigate potential phenotypic and epigenetic effects of VZ in gastropods, we performed a two-generation study with the freshwater snail Physella acuta. The parental generation (F 0 ) of P. acuta was exposed to 0.01, 0.1, 10 and 100 µg l –1 VZ. VZ-exposed F 0 and nonexposed offspring of the control, 0.1 and 100 µg l –1 groups (F 1 and F 2 ) were investigated for phenotypic (reproduction, growth and embryo development) and epigenetic (5-methyl cytosine content) effects. VZ exposure of F 0 did not induce an adverse reproductive phenotype in P. acuta . However, the size of F 1 adults and the mortality of F 2 embryos significantly increased when F 0 adults were previously exposed to 100 µg l –1 VZ. At the level of global DNA methylation, we did not observe a VZ effect, but global DNA methylation of P. acuta decreased with increasing age. VZ affected the offspring of 100 µg l –1 VZ-exposed individuals, most probably due to an indirect VZ exposure of F 1 (embryonic stage) and F 2 (germline). The postulated relationship between VZ phenotype and epitype was not shown by the present study. However, our results demonstrate for the first time the presence and age-dependence of DNA methylation in P. acuta .
Print ISSN:
0260-1230
Electronic ISSN:
1464-3766
Topics:
Biology
Permalink