Ecotoxicology

, Volume 25, Issue 4, pp 802–813 | Cite as

Evaluation of sublethal toxicity of zinc and chromium in Eudrilus eugeniae using biochemical and reproductive parameters

Article
First Online:
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Abstract

Zinc (Zn) and chromium (Cr) act as essential nutrients; however, they can be toxic at higher concentrations. In this study, earthworm species Eudrilus eugeniae was studied for its sensitivity to sublethal doses of Cr (8 ppm) and Zn (350 ppm) in terms of alterations occurred in oxidative stress indices and reproductive parameters in the testis. A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the rate of food intake was observed on 7, 14 and 21 days of Cr toxicity; while increased rate was evident upon 7 days of Zn exposure. Changes evident in the rate of cocoon production (−39.54 and +38.63 %), hatchability (−77.85 and +30.0 %) highlight higher toxic potential of Cr than Zn, respectively. Moderate to severe vacuolization in spermatic follicles and higher incidence of tailless (+52.6 % in Cr and 20.8 % in Zn), and head bent (+18.8 % in Cr and 0 % in Zn) sperms were evident in Cr(VI) exposed worms emphasizing the higher vulnerability of E. eugeniae to Cr toxicity. A significant (p < 0.05) increase observed in catalase activity (+13.29 % in Zn and +20.88 % in Cr) and glutathione (+52.09 % in Zn and −7.70 % in Cr) suggests a higher compensatory antioxidant response in Zn-exposed worms than Cr. Variations observed in the activities of superoxide dismutase (−9.40 % in Zn and +24.0 % in Cr) and glutathione-s-transferase (−39.39 % in Zn and +1.29 % in Cr) emphasize the metal specific antioxidant responses in testis. Therefore, it can be implied from results that excessive free radical production and inadequate antioxidant defenses have lead to morphological alterations in sperms which sequentially reduced the reproductive rate.

Keywords

Heavy metal toxicity Eudrilus eugeniae Oxidative stress Sperm parameters 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by UGC-SWRO, Bangalore in the form of FIP to Latha V. Acknowledgement due to Dr. Balagangadhar, KSPCB, Bangalore for providing necessary facilities to make use of AAS and Prof. Radha Kale, Research director, Mount Carmel College for her expert suggestions.

Author contribution

Basha MP designed the experimental study and Latha V carried out analysis and coordinated in preparing the manuscript and revision. Both the authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of ZoologyBangalore UniversityBangaloreIndia

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