Imposex in Japanese gastropods (neogastropoda and mesogastropoda): Effects of tributyltin and triphenyltin from antifouling paints

doi:10.1016/0025-326X(95)00133-8

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Volume 31, Issues 4–12, April–December 1995, Pages 402-405

https://doi.org/10.1016/0025-326X(95)00133-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

In Japan, marine pollution by organotin compounds is serious and imposex is known to occur in marine gastropods. However, a detailed survey on imposex had not previously been conducted. The first country-wide survey and laboratory experiments on imposex in Japanese gastropods has now been carried out, and the results are reported herein.

References (8)

G.W. Bryan et al.
The decline of the gastropod Nucella lapillus around southwest England: evidence for the effect of tributyltin from antifouling paints
J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK
(1986)
G.W. Bryan et al.
A comparison of the effectiveness of tri-n-butyltin chloride and five other organotin compounds in promoting the development of imposex in the dog-whelk, Nucella lapillus
J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK
(1988)
P.E. Gibbs et al.
Reproductive failure in populations of the dog-whelk Nucella lapillus, caused by imposex induced by tributyltin from antifouling paints
J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK
(1986)
P.E. Gibbs et al.
The use of the dog-whelk, Nucella lapillus, as an indicator of tributyltin (TBT) contamination
J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK
(1987)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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Temporal evolution of imposex and butyltin contamination in Gemophos viverratus from São Vicente (Cabo Verde) - a countercurrent trend on the world scenario
2021, Marine Pollution Bulletin
Organotin (OT) based Antifouling Systems (AFS) were globally banned by the AFS Convention since 2008, but the Republic of Cabo Verde did not ratify this Convention, nor did it develop a national legislation to control OT-AFS. Gemophos viverratus imposex and butyltin tissue contamination were assessed around the São Vicente Island (Cabo Verde) in 2019 and compared with the data available from 2012. The vas deferens sequence index (VDSI), the relative penis length (RPL), the percentage of females with imposex (%I) and the percentage of sterilized females (%S) in 2019 ranged from 0 to 4.0, 0–84.4%, 0–100% and 0–5.1%, respectively, whilst TBT reached maximum values of ≈30 ng TBT-Sn g⁻¹ dw in the whelk tissues. These values are very similar to those registered in 2012, which indicates that TBT pollution has not decreased over the years, in contrast to the declining trend observed worldwide.
Environmental quality status of the Portuguese coast regarding TBT pollution – Recommendations for considering imposex monitoring within the scope of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
2018, Ecological Indicators
The recent years witnessed an increasing society consciousness on subjects concerning aquatic pollution. In Europe, several legislative pieces have been implemented to improve and protect the aquatic environment like the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), as well as the specific strategies adopted by Regional Sea Conventions. Here we assess the quality status of the Portuguese coastal and transitional waters regarding TBT pollution, using imposex as biomarker, aiming its integration as an indicator of environmental quality assessment under the MSFD. Imposex data available for two gastropod bioindicators, Nucella lapillus and Nassarius reticulatus, are used for that purpose, applying the classification previously proposed for the WFD (described elsewhere) and the OSPAR Assessment Criteria. A good quality status was achieved in most of the stations located in coastal waters while a worse ecological status was perceived in stations located in transitional water bodies, due to the proximity of TBT contamination sources. The comparison between the WFD classification proposal and the OSPAR Assessment Criteria shows a similar temporal trend in the study area however, slight differences can be perceived and are discussed. Both the WFD and OSPAR should be considered on the MSFD implementation but they differ in their objectives regarding TBT pollution. Therefore, this work allows the integration of imposex monitoring within the MSFD and recommends the use of the WFD assessment criteria also in this directive.
Size, season and origin of gastropods matter in imposex assessments
2018, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Citation Excerpt :
At this concern, a recent study reported a lethal dose (LD50) of 6.2 μg g−1 of TBT for another muricidae species (Trophon geversianus) (Primost et al., 2015), confirming the high resistance of gastropods to acute TBT exposure. Although TBT injection is a non-natural exposure way and not mimicking the natural conditions the method has been used in other studies (Bryan et al., 1988; Horiguchi et al., 1995, 1994; Santos et al., 2006), and adequately demonstrates the effects of TBT. Moreover, TBT injection provides a quick way to express the physiological responses in experiments conditions.
Through controlled exposure to tributyltin (TBT), the effects of season, size, and population origin were evaluated on imposex incidence in Stramonita brasiliensis. Four experiments were carried out with organisms collected from three different sites on the Brazilian coast (Torres - Rio Grande do Sul, Farol de Santa Marta - Santa Catarina, and Aracruz - Espírito Santo). S. brasiliensis were anesthetized, sexed, measured, classified by size in small (< 30 mm), medium (≥ 30 to ≤ 40 mm), or big (> 40 mm) and injected in the foot muscle with 0.5 μg g⁻¹ of TBT. Organisms were maintained during one month in aquariums with clear marine water under controlled laboratory conditions. One month after injection, the imposex assessments showed that the population from the southeast (tropical) region was more sensitive to TBT than the population from the south of Brazil (the temperate region). A greater sensitivity in the small and medium categories was observed. Females were also more susceptible to TBT when exposed during their reproductive period. Thus, the present study highlighted the need to ensure that intrinsic biological factors related to organisms are considered in such biomonitoring studies to avoid misinterpretation of results.
Characterization and comparison of transcriptional activities of the retinoid X receptors by various organotin compounds in three prosobranch gastropods; Thais clavigera, Nucella lapillus and Babylonia japonica
2018, Aquatic Toxicology
Citation Excerpt :
Meanwhile, organotins are known to have various harmful effects on both vertebrates and invertebrates (Boyer, 1989; Fent, 1996; Golub and Doherty, 2004). The induction of ‘imposex’ in female gastropod molluscs is one of the most well-known adverse effects caused by organotins (Bryan et al., 1986, 1987, 1988; Gibbs et al., 1987, 1988; Horiguchi et al., 1994, 1995, 1997a; Smith, 1971, 1980, 1981a,b,c,d). The term ‘imposex’ has been defined as a superimposition of male genital organs, such as the penis and vas deferens, on female prosobranch gastropods, which is considered an irreversible pseudohermaphroditic condition, resulting in population decline or mass extinction due to reproductive failure of females at severely polluted sites (Bryan et al., 1986; Gibbs and Bryan, 1986, Gibbs et al., 1988, 1990; Horiguchi and Shimizu, 1992; Horiguchi et al., 1994, 1997b, 2006; Smith, 1971).
Two cDNAs of RXR were isolated, for the first time, from the ivory shell, Babylonia japonica, and the transcriptional activities were tested in vitro to compare with other gastropod (Thais clavigera and Nucella lapillus) RXR isoforms. The transcriptional activities of all of these RXR isoforms were significantly induced by mammalian RXR agonist, 9-cis retinoic acid (9cRA). The transcriptional activity of T. clavigera RXR-1 was also examined by using 9cRA and 16 organotin compounds, and significant ligand-dependent transactivations were observed by 9cRA and 5 organotins (tributyltin (TBT), tetrabutyltin (TeBT), tripropyltin (TPrT), tricyclohexyltin (TcHT) and triphenyltin (TPhT)). These 5 organotins also induced significant transcriptional activities in N. lapillus and B. japonica RXR isoforms. These 4 organotins, except for TeBT, have been reported to promote the development of imposex after a month of a single injection each, using female T. clavigera. To investigate the function of gastropod RXR isoforms, the effects of mammalian specific pan-agonist, PA024, and pan-antagonist, HX531, were examined, and significant induction of transcriptional activity by PA024 was demonstrated in these gastropod RXR isoforms. The additions of HX531 significantly suppressed the transcriptional activities of these gastropod RXR isoforms by 9cRA and 5 organotins. Using the mammalian two retinoic acid response elements, the transcriptional activities by 2 agonists, 9cRA and PA024, were different among the RXR isoforms of each gastropod species. With retinoid X response element (RXRE), transcriptional activities of TcRXR-1, BjRXR-1, and NlRXRa were significantly higher than those of TcRXR-2, BjRXR-2, and NlRXRb. Transcriptional activities of TcRXR-2, BjRXR-2, and NlRXRb, however, were significantly higher than those of TcRXR-1, BjRXR-1, and NlRXRa with thyroid hormone response element, TREpal. Thus, induction of imposex in prosobranch gastropods is strongly suggested to be triggered by 9cRA and certain organotins, such as TBT and TPhT through the activation of RXRs. These gastropod RXRs might control the different gene transcription by forming homo- or heterodimer complex with their own isoforms. These findings will contribute to our understanding of the fundamentals of the endocrine system in molluscs, particularly on RXR signaling pathway.
Assessing the toxicity of triphenyltin to different life stages of the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma through a series of life-cycle based experiments
2017, Marine Pollution Bulletin
Toxic effects of triphenyltin (TPT) to different life stages of the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma were investigated through a series of life-cycle based exposure experiments. In embryo stage, TPT exposure could elevate the heartbeat rate at Day 6–8 post-fertilization and increase the expression levels of five heart development related genes (i.e., ATPase, COX2, BMP4, GATA4 and NKX2.5). In larval stage, TPT shortened the body length at ≥ 10 μg/L and suppressed the swimming activity of the fish larvae at Day 1 post-hatching at 50 μg/L. In reproductive stage, TPT exposure resulted in a male-biased sex ratio (2 μg/L) and reduced the gonadosomatic index (GSI) in females (≥ 0.1 μg/L), which might in turn lead to a decline in their population fitness. The reproductive stage of O. melastigma was more sensitive to TPT than other stages, while the GSI of female medaka was the most sensitive endpoint.

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Marine Pollution Bulletin

Abstract

References (8)

The decline of the gastropod Nucella lapillus around southwest England: evidence for the effect of tributyltin from antifouling paints

J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK

A comparison of the effectiveness of tri-n-butyltin chloride and five other organotin compounds in promoting the development of imposex in the dog-whelk, Nucella lapillus

J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK

Reproductive failure in populations of the dog-whelk Nucella lapillus, caused by imposex induced by tributyltin from antifouling paints

J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK

The use of the dog-whelk, Nucella lapillus, as an indicator of tributyltin (TBT) contamination

J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK

Cited by (121)

Chlorpromazine's impact on Mytilus galloprovincialis: a multi-faceted investigation

Temporal evolution of imposex and butyltin contamination in Gemophos viverratus from São Vicente (Cabo Verde) - a countercurrent trend on the world scenario

Environmental quality status of the Portuguese coast regarding TBT pollution – Recommendations for considering imposex monitoring within the scope of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Size, season and origin of gastropods matter in imposex assessments

Characterization and comparison of transcriptional activities of the retinoid X receptors by various organotin compounds in three prosobranch gastropods; Thais clavigera, Nucella lapillus and Babylonia japonica

Assessing the toxicity of triphenyltin to different life stages of the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma through a series of life-cycle based experiments

EcotoxicologyImposex in Japanese gastropods (neogastropoda and mesogastropoda): Effects of tributyltin and triphenyltin from antifouling paints

Abstract

The decline of the gastropod Nucella lapillus around southwest England: evidence for the effect of tributyltin from antifouling paints

J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK

A comparison of the effectiveness of tri-n-butyltin chloride and five other organotin compounds in promoting the development of imposex in the dog-whelk, Nucella lapillus

J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK

Reproductive failure in populations of the dog-whelk Nucella lapillus, caused by imposex induced by tributyltin from antifouling paints

J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK

The use of the dog-whelk, Nucella lapillus, as an indicator of tributyltin (TBT) contamination

J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK

Ecotoxicology
Imposex in Japanese gastropods (neogastropoda and mesogastropoda): Effects of tributyltin and triphenyltin from antifouling paints