Metallomic mapping of gut and brain in heavy metal exposed earthworms: A novel paradigm in ecotoxicology

TY - JOUR

T1 - Metallomic mapping of gut and brain in heavy metal exposed earthworms

T2 - A novel paradigm in ecotoxicology

AU - Karpov, Maxim A.

AU - Hobbs, Carl

AU - Jayasinghe, Suwan N.

AU - Stürzenbaum, Stephen R.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors

PY - 2024/5/21

Y1 - 2024/5/21

N2 - This study explored the uptake of lead in the epigeic earthworm Dendrobaena veneta exposed to 0, 1000, and 2500 μg Pb/g soil. The soil metal content was extracted using strong acid digestion and water leaching, and analysed by means of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to estimate absolute and bioavailable concentrations of metals in the soil. The guts and heads of lead-exposed earthworms were processed into formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded sections for high-resolution multi-element metallomic imaging via Laser Ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS). Metallomic maps of phosphorus, zinc, and lead were produced at 15-μm resolution in the head and gut of D. veneta. Additional 4-μm resolution metallomic maps of the earthworm brains were taken, revealing the detailed localisation of metals in the brain. The Pb bioaccumulated in the chloragogenous tissues of the earthworm in a dose-dependent manner, making it possible to track the extent of soil contamination. The bioaccumulation of P and Zn in earthworm tissues was independent of Pb exposure concentration. This approach demonstrates the utility of LA-ICP-MS as a powerful approach for ecotoxicology and environmental risk assessments.

AB - This study explored the uptake of lead in the epigeic earthworm Dendrobaena veneta exposed to 0, 1000, and 2500 μg Pb/g soil. The soil metal content was extracted using strong acid digestion and water leaching, and analysed by means of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to estimate absolute and bioavailable concentrations of metals in the soil. The guts and heads of lead-exposed earthworms were processed into formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded sections for high-resolution multi-element metallomic imaging via Laser Ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS). Metallomic maps of phosphorus, zinc, and lead were produced at 15-μm resolution in the head and gut of D. veneta. Additional 4-μm resolution metallomic maps of the earthworm brains were taken, revealing the detailed localisation of metals in the brain. The Pb bioaccumulated in the chloragogenous tissues of the earthworm in a dose-dependent manner, making it possible to track the extent of soil contamination. The bioaccumulation of P and Zn in earthworm tissues was independent of Pb exposure concentration. This approach demonstrates the utility of LA-ICP-MS as a powerful approach for ecotoxicology and environmental risk assessments.

KW - Chloragogenous tissues

KW - Earthworm

KW - Ecotoxicology

KW - LA-ICP-MS

KW - Lead bioaccumulation

KW - Soil analysis

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85189092439

U2 - 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149827

DO - 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149827

M3 - Article

C2 - 38554600

AN - SCOPUS:85189092439

SN - 0006-291X

VL - 709

JO - Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

JF - Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

M1 - 149827

ER -