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Using Caenorhabditis elegans for Studying Trans- and Multi-Generational Effects of Toxicants
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Using Caenorhabditis elegans for Studying Trans- and Multi-Generational Effects of Toxicants

Published on: July 29, 2019

Transgenerational effects from exposure to environmental toxic substances

Taisei Nomura1

  • 1Department of Radiation Biology and Medical Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. n5nomura@nibio.go.jp

Mutation Research
|April 15, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Environmental toxins like urethane and dioxin cause adverse effects in offspring, similar to radiation exposure, but their mutagenicity remains complex. Further research is needed to understand these transgenerational impacts.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Genetics
  • Reproductive Health

Background:

  • Parental exposure to radiation and chemicals can cause mutations, malformations, and cancer in offspring, though human data is limited.
  • Environmental toxicants like urethane and dioxin exhibit teratogenicity and carcinogenicity in vivo but lack clear in vitro mutagenicity.
  • Previous studies show dioxin exposure linked to congenital malformations in offspring.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the transgenerational effects of urethane and dioxin exposure in mice.
  • To compare these effects with those induced by radiation exposure.
  • To explore the underlying mechanisms of mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and carcinogenicity of these substances.

Main Methods:

  • Exposure of mouse germ cells to radiation and specific toxic substances (urethane, dioxin).
  • Assessment of mutations, malformations, and other adverse effects in offspring.
  • Comparison of results with established radiation exposure data and in vitro/in vivo mutagenicity assays.

Main Results:

  • Urethane induced mutations in Drosophila but showed mixed results in mouse germ cell tests.
  • Dioxin did not induce somatic mutations or chromosomal aberrations but caused low-frequency mutations at ESTR loci and congenital malformations in mice.
  • Both urethane and dioxin demonstrated adverse transgenerational effects in mice, mirroring some radiation-induced outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental toxicants like urethane and dioxin can induce adverse transgenerational effects in mammals.
  • The mutagenicity of these substances is complex, with discrepancies between in vitro and in vivo findings.
  • Further research is crucial to elucidate the mechanisms behind their teratogenicity and carcinogenicity.

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