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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
Hydroxyl radical generation and oxidative stress in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) exposed to decabromodiphenyl ether
Xianchuan Xie1, Yingxin Wu, Mengying Zhu
1State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Center for Hydrosciences Research, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, People's Republuic of China.
Abstract:
Antioxidant responses induced by decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) in the earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were studied after 7 days of exposure. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra indicated that hydroxyl radicals (•OH) in earthworms were significantly induced by 0.01-10 mg/kg of BDE-209. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PCO) were stimulated at 0.5-10 mg/kg and 1-10 mg/kg, respectively. The reduced glutathione (GSH) was inhibited at 1-10 mg/kg while oxidized glutathione (GSSG) accumulated at 0.5-10 mg/kg. The GSH/GSSG ratio decreased at 0.5-10 mg/kg, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were induced at 0.1-1 and 0.5 mg/kg, respectively and both decreased at 10 mg/kg. Catalase (CAT) activities increased at 1-10 mg/kg. The results showed that severe oxidative stress occurred in E. fetida, and may play an important role in inducing the toxicity of BDE-209 on earthworms.
