Effects of Tributyltin(IV) Chloride Exposure on Larvae ofCiona intestinalis (Urochordata): An Ultrastructural Study

The effects of tributyltin(IV) chloride (TBT chloride) have been tested on embryos of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis, at two different stages of development: (1) before hatching (coiled larval stage) and (2) 2 h after hatching (swimming larval stage). In vivo observations carried out with a light microscope showed that embryos at the coiled larval stage did not hatch following exposure to TBT chloride. Severe anomalies in the swimming larva, mainly concerning the morphology of the tail, which appeared twisted and squatter than in the controls, were observed. Such anomalies were also found at a functional level, i.e. contractile movements were poor so that the larvae appeared motionless. Ul…

Indagini ultrastrutturali sugli effetti di un organometallo dello stagno [tributyltin (IV) chloride] sul processo di neurulazione delle Ascidie.

Un’attenzione particolare è stata rivolta, negli anni più recenti, allo studio degli effetti di un organo metallo contenente stagno, il TBT (IV) chloride, sugli stadi iniziali dello sviluppo embrionale di animali marini. Gli effetti di questo potente inquinante sullo sviluppo e sulla sopravvivenza degli embrioni sono stati proposti come parametri utili per il controllo e il monitoraggio delle acque. Nel presente lavoro sono riportati gli effetti tossici del TBT (IV) chloride sulla neurulazione sull’ascidia Ciona intestinalis, stadio molto importante durante il quale avviene la determinazione del sistema nervoso e la formazione del tubo neurale. L’esposizione degli embrioni allo stadio di ne…

Tributyltin chloride-induced effects on protein tyrosine phosphorylation and on extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorilation in Ascidian Phallusia mammilata

Ascidians represent an intriguing candidate experimental system for studying the effects of environmental stress. We studied TBT effects and probable related pathways were investigated on ascidian embryos by using Western immunoblotting. Among the various signal transduction pathways involved in response to environmental stress, both tyrosine kinase signalling and MAPKs have been played a significant role. To better understand molecular mechanisms after exposure to TBT we studied the two signal transduction pathways above mentioned. Attempting to unravel the molecular effects of TBT-induced on ascidians embryogenesis, TBT treatments carried out in Phallusia mammillata embryos at gastrula st…

TRIBUTYLTIN-INDUCED EFFECTS ON MAPK SIGNALING IN ASCIDIAN EMBRYOS

Among the class of organotin compounds, the most well known is tributyltin (TBT). Organotin have many applications, which include use in PVC, as catalyst in chemical reactions, agricultural pesticides and antifungal treatments for textile polymers. In particular TBT is used in marine antifoulant paints to prevent the growth of organisms such as barnacles on the hull of ships. Extensive use in antifouling paints led to the widespread distribution of TBT and its breakdown products in the global marine, sediment and biota. High levels of TBT in the waters were found to have impaired reproduction, by inhibiting embryogenesis and larval development in a variety of marine organisms. Symptoms of t…

COMPARATIVE ULTRASTRUCTURAL INVESTIGATION ON THE ADHESIVE PAPILLAE OF THE SWIMMING LARVAE OF THREE ASCIDIAE SPECIES

Ascidian swimming larvae bear three peculiar organs of ectodermic origin, named “palps” or adhesive papillae, located in the anterior region of cephalenteron. Term “adhesive” is correlated to one of the function of these structure based on secretion of an adhesive substance which enables swimming larvae to adhere to a substratum. Recently a sensory function has also been described in some Phlebobranchia papillae with a simple morpho-functional organization. There are few ultrastructural investigations in literature, sometimes disputed, able to make clear papillae cells functions. To clarify this problem, a comparative investigation has been carried out, just in this work, about ultrastructu…

Elementi di Biologia dello sviluppo

Adhesive papillae ofAscidia malacaswimming larvae: investigations on their sensory function

Summary Swimming larvae of Ascidia malaca bear, in the anterior region of cephalenteron, three adhesive papillae through which they can attach to a substratum prior to metamorphosis. The ultrastructural investigations described in the present work have mainly revealed the presence of three cell types constituting the papillae: (a) collocytes, (b) axial columnar cells, (c) sensory cells. Collocytes, whose ultrastructure is typical of secretory cells, form the adhesive secretion. The ultrastructural observations of the axial columnar cells are insufficient to explain their function. Probably this cell type plays a supporting role though some sensory function cannot be excluded due to the pres…

Identificazione del modulo di regolazione spaziale del gene Tα2 in Paracentrotus lividus

Effects of tri-n-butyltin(IV) chloride on neurulation of Ciona intestinalis (Tunicata, Ascidiacea): an ultrastructural study

This paper reports the cytotoxic effects of tri-n-butyltin (IV) chloride, TBTCl, on the neurulation process of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Exposure of the embryos at early neurula stage in 10−5 and 10−7M TBT (IV) chloride solutions for 1–2 h provoked the irreversible arrest of their development. Morphological and ultrastructural observations suggested that most probably there are two principal causes determining the neurulation process block. The first is due to the TBT effects of inhibiting the polymerization and/or degradation of microfilaments and microtubules, proteins that constitute the cytoskeleton. The lack of orientation and extension of both microtubules and microfilaments of…

Functional role of test cells in swimming larvae of Ascidia malaca: ultrastructuraland cytochemical investigations

The functional role played by test cells in larvae of various ascidian species consists in depositing submicroscopic structures known as ornaments and/or proteoglycan substances on the larval test surface. According to the data reported in the literature, the deposition of ornaments together with proteoglycan substances on the larval test would render the latter hydrophilic and thus allow the larva to swim being immersed in water. Ornament deposition on the larval test does not occur in all the ascidian species. Ultrastructural investigations made on larvae belonging to the Cionidae and Ascididae families, for instance, have failed to evidence the presence of ornaments on the test. For thes…

The hydrophilie of the larval test of Ascidiae: functional role played by test cells

Ascidian swimming larvae are entirely surrounded by a hyaline extracellular coat, called as tunic or test, on which numerous test cells adhere. The functional role played by test cells in larvae of various ascidian species consists in depositing submicroscopic structures known as ornaments and/or substances of proteoglycan nature in the larval test surface. The deposition of ornaments would render the larval test hydrophilic and thus allow the larvae to swim being immersed in sea water. Ultrastructural investigations reported in literature on larvae of Cionidae and Ascididae families have not evidenced the presence of ornaments in the swimming larval test. For these Ascididae families it ha…

In vitro effects of methylmercury on ascidian (Styela plicata) immunocyte responses

This study shows that high methylmercury concentrations are cytotoxic for Styela plicata hemocytes, whereas sublethal concentrations affect immunocyte responses. Moreover, hemocytes exposed to the xenobiotic present a significantly enhanced phenoloxidase activity as revealed in the hemocyte lysate supernatant compared with the control. Although the cytotoxic activity of S. plicata hemocytes toward rabbit erythrocytes is a PO-dependent cell-target reaction due to quinone products, it was significantly decreased by suitable methylmercury concentrations in the medium. The same xenobiotic concentrations decreased the hemocyte phagocytic activity toward yeast. In both the responses cell-target c…

Effects of tributyltin(IV) chloride exposure on early embryonic stages ofCiona intestinalis:In vivo and ultrastructural investigations

The effects of tributyltin(IV) chloride (TBT chloride) solutions on ascidian embryos of Ciona intestinalis have been tested at different stages of development. It has been observed, in vivo, that TBT chooride inhibited cleavage of fertilized eggs and of embryo blastomeres giving rise to cellular masses that are not delimited by plasma membrane. Electron-dense precipitates of TBT chloride, probably as inorganic tin, have been observed by transmission electron microscopy in the egg cytoplasm of cellular masses. The same type of precipitate was present also inside the mitochondria, whose structure appeared to be highly modified. These ultrastructure aspects are indicative of a degenerative pro…

Effetti del TBT-chloride su embrioni di Ascidie: modulazione del "signaling" di MAP-chinasi

Early stages of test formation in larva of Ascidia malaca (Tunicata, Ascidiacea): ultrastructural and cytochemical investigations.

Abstract The swimming larvae of ascidians are entirely covered by a hyalin coat called tunic, or test. This covering consists of two cuticular layers, C 1 and C 2 , which surround an inner compartment composed of an amorphous hyalin matrix with numerous fibrils dispersed inside. Data from the literature agree on the key role played by the cells of the larval ectodermic layer in the synthesis and secretion of larval test components. In the present article are reported ultrastructural and cytochemical investigations made during test formation in the swimming larva of Ascidia malaca . Besides confirming the role played by ectodermic cells during the early stages of test formation, the investig…