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Lysosomal response of earthworm ( Eisenia fetida ) coelomocytes to the fungicide copper oxychloride and relation to life‐cycle parameters
Author(s) -
Reinecke Sophiè A.,
Helling Beate,
Reinecke Adriaan J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620210519
Subject(s) - eisenia fetida , earthworm , oligochaeta (plant) , copper , eisenia andrei , fungicide , chemistry , environmental chemistry , biology , toxicology , ecology , botany , organic chemistry
Juvenile specimens of the earthworm species Eisenia fetida Savigny, 1826, were exposed in the laboratory to a range of concentrations of the fungicide copper oxychloride. After an eight‐week exposure period, the neutral‐red retention (NRR) times were measured in the coelomocytes of all the worms that had matured. Life‐cycle traits (survival, biomass change, cocoon production, cocoon mass, hatching of cocoons, number of hatchlings) were also monitored. Dose‐related effects on NRR times, maturation, growth, and reproduction parameters were determined (one‐way analysis of variance, p < 0.05). The lowest effect concentration for substrate copper (Cu) measured for the NRR time was 8.9 mg/kg (dry wt). Growth was severely affected at the highest exposure concentration (330 mg/kg substrate dry wt), at which no worms matured and no NRR times could be measured. Negative linear correlations ( p < 0.05) were apparent between the NRR times and substrate and body Cu concentrations. Positive linear relationships were found between the NRR times and some life‐cycle parameters ( p < 0.05). This study showed that the NRR assay can indicate toxic stress due to Cu exposure at an early stage, and that NRR times can be linked to effects on certain life‐cycle traits.