Genotoxic potential of TiO2 on bottlenose dolphin leukocytes |
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Authors: | Margherita Bernardeschi Patrizia Guidi Vittoria Scarcelli Giada Frenzilli Marco Nigro |
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Institution: | (1) Dipartimento di Morfologia Umana e Biologia Applicata, University of Pisa, Via Volta 4, 56126 Pisa, Italy; |
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Abstract: | Titanium dioxide is extensively used in a variety of products, including industrial materials and cosmetics. Studies mainly
performed on human cell lines and in vivo exposure on experimental animals have raised concern about the toxic effects of
ultrafine titanium dioxide; however, scarce information is available about its impact on aquatic life. The aim of this article
was to assess the genotoxic potential of TiO2 (anatase and rutile) on bottlenose dolphin leukocytes. Blood samples were obtained from four male and one female specimens
reared at the Adriatic SeaWorld “Oltremare” (Riccione, Italy). Leukocytes were isolated by the lyses procedure and in vitro
exposed to TiO2 in RPMI. Experimental solutions were sonicated immediately before dosing the cells. Three exposure times (4, 24 and 48 h)
and three doses (20, 50 and 100 μg/ml) were tested. Genotoxicity was detected by the single-cell gel electrophoresis (or comet
assay) at pH ≥ 13, assessing single/double-strand breaks and alkali-labile sites. Cytotoxicity was also detected by the Trypan
blue exclusion method. Results showed that both the crystalline forms of TiO2 were genotoxic for bottlenose dolphin leukocytes, with a statistically significant increase of DNA fragmentation after exposure
to 50 and 100 μg/ml for 24 and 48 h. Although preliminary, these are the first data regarding the genetic susceptibility of
toothed cetaceans toward an “emerging” pollutant, such as TiO2 particles. |
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