1
|
Chacón CF, Parachú Marcó MV, Poletta GL, Siroski PA. Lipid metabolism in crocodilians: A field with promising applications in the field of ecotoxicology. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:119017. [PMID: 38704009 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
In the last years, lipid physiology has become an important research target for systems biology applied to the field of ecotoxicology. Lipids are not only essential components of biological membranes, but also participate in extra and intracellular signaling processes and as signal transducers and amplifiers of regulatory cascades. Particularly in sauropsids, lipids are the main source of energy for reproduction, growth, and embryonic development. In nature, organisms are exposed to different stressors, such as parasites, diseases and environmental contaminants, which interact with lipid signaling and metabolic pathways, disrupting lipid homeostasis. The system biology approach applied to ecotoxicological studies is crucial to evaluate metabolic regulation under environmental stress produced by xenobiotics. In this review, we cover information of molecular mechanisms that contribute to lipid metabolism homeostasis in sauropsids, specifically in crocodilian species. We focus on the role of lipid metabolism as a powerful source of energy and its importance during oocyte maturation, which has been increasingly recognized in many species, but information is still scarce in crocodiles. Finally, we highlight priorities for future research on the influence of environmental stressors on lipid metabolism, their potential effect on the reproductive system and thus on the offspring, and their implications on crocodilians conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C F Chacón
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular Aplicada (LEMA), Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (ICiVet Litoral-CONICET/UNL), Av. Aristóbulo del Valle 8700, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina; Proyecto Yacaré (MAyCC, Gob. de Santa Fe), Av. Aristóbulo del Valle 8700, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - M V Parachú Marcó
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular Aplicada (LEMA), Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (ICiVet Litoral-CONICET/UNL), Av. Aristóbulo del Valle 8700, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina; Proyecto Yacaré (MAyCC, Gob. de Santa Fe), Av. Aristóbulo del Valle 8700, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - G L Poletta
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular Aplicada (LEMA), Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (ICiVet Litoral-CONICET/UNL), Av. Aristóbulo del Valle 8700, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina; Toxicología, Farmacología y Bioquímica Legal, FBCB-UNL, CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje El Pozo S/N, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - P A Siroski
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular Aplicada (LEMA), Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (ICiVet Litoral-CONICET/UNL), Av. Aristóbulo del Valle 8700, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina; Proyecto Yacaré (MAyCC, Gob. de Santa Fe), Av. Aristóbulo del Valle 8700, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Morão IFC, Simões T, Casado RB, Vieira S, Ferreira-Airaud B, Caliani I, Di Noi A, Casini S, Fossi MC, Lemos MFL, Novais SC. Metal accumulation in female green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Eastern Atlantic affects their egg quality with potential implications for embryonic development. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 931:172710. [PMID: 38670375 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Sea turtles, with their global distribution and complex life cycle, often accumulate pollutants such as metals and metalloids due to their extended lifespan and feeding habits. However, there are limited studies exploring the impact of metal pollution on the reproductive health of female sea turtles, specifically focusing on the quality of their eggs, which has significant implications for the future generations of these charismatic animals. São Tomé Island, a crucial nesting and feeding habitat for green sea turtles, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive research in this ecologically significant area. This study aimed to investigate whether metals and metalloids in the blood of nesting female green sea turtles induce genotoxic effects in their erythrocytes and affect their egg morphometric characteristics and the composition of related compartments. Additionally, this study aimed to evaluate whether the quality of energetic reserves for embryo development (fatty acids in yolk's polar and neutral lipids) is influenced by the contamination status of their predecessors. Results revealed correlations between Cu and Hg levels and increased "lobed" erythrocytes, while As and Cu negatively influenced shell thickness. In terms of energy reserves, both polar and neutral lipid fractions contained primarily saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, with prevalent 18:1n-9, 18:0, 16:0, 14:0, and 12:0 fatty acids in yolk samples. The yolk polar fraction was more susceptible to contaminant levels in female sea turtles, showing consistent negative correlations between pollution load index and essential n3 fatty acids, including linolenic, eicosatrienoic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosapentaenoic acids, crucial for embryonic development. These metals accumulation, coupled with the reduced availability of these key fatty acids, may disrupt the eicosanoid and other important pathways, affecting reproductive development. This study reveals a negative correlation between metal contamination in female sea turtles' blood and egg lipid reserves, raising concerns about embryonic development and the species' future generations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inês F C Morão
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, Portugal; Faculdade de Ciências & CESAM, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Tiago Simões
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, Portugal
| | - Roger B Casado
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, Portugal
| | - Sara Vieira
- Associação Programa Tatô, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe; Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
| | - Betânia Ferreira-Airaud
- Associação Programa Tatô, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe; Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
| | - Ilaria Caliani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Agata Di Noi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Silvia Casini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria C Fossi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco F L Lemos
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, Portugal
| | - Sara C Novais
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abstract
The ductus arteriosus is typically viewed as a mammalian fetal blood vessel providing a right-to-left shunt of right ventricular outflow away from the lungs and to the systemic circuit, that must close at birth. This review provides a wider comparative examination of the ductus arteriosus in lungfish, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The ductus arteriosus evolved with the lung in the ancestors of the lungfish as a connection between the pulmonary arteries and dorsal aorta. During embryonic development, reptiles, birds, and mammals all possess either one or two paired ductus arteriosi that provide a fetal shunt of blood away from the lungs. Differences in the fetal circulatory arrangement are seen between these groups and this influences the importance of the ductus arteriosus as an embryonic shunt. The ductus arteriosus from lungfish and tetrapod vertebrates is an oxygen sensitive blood vessel, with shared conserved pathways involved in oxygen sensing. By expanding studies into more comparative models such as lungfish or developing birds a better understanding of the physiology of the ductus arteriosus can be developed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward M Dzialowski
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Science, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton, TX 76203.
| |
Collapse
|