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Ecotoxicological diagnosis of striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Mediterranean basin by skin biopsy and gene expression approach

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Abstract

Mediterranean cetacean odontocetes are exposed to environmental stress, in particular to persistent organic pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and trace elements. In the present study, the response of “gene-expression biomarkers” was evaluated in Mediterranean striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) skin biopsies collected in three sampling areas: Pelagos sanctuary (Ligurian sea), Ionian sea, and Strait of Gibraltar. The mRNA levels of five putative biomarker genes (aryl hydrocarbon receptor, E2F-1 transcription factor, cytochrome P450 1A, estrogen receptor 1, and heat shock protein 70) were measured for the first time by quantitative real-time PCR in cetacean skin biopsies. The different responses of most of the genes reflected contamination levels in the three sampling areas. Pelagos sanctuary dolphins appeared to be the most exposed to toxicological stress, having the highest up-regulation of CYP1A and AHR. Moreover, a cluster analysis distinguished the populations on the basis of the gene expression biomarker used in our study, showing different pattern between Mediterranean sea and Strait of Gibraltar. Our results suggest that this molecular approach applied to non-destructive biopsy material is a powerful diagnostic tool for evaluating ecotoxicological impact on cetacean populations.

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Abbreviations

POPs:

Persistent organic pollutants

PAHs:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

OCs:

Organochlorines compounds

EDCs:

Endocrine disrupting compounds.

PBDEs:

Polybrominated diphenylethers

AHR:

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor

E2F-1:

E2F-1 transcription factor

CYP1A:

Cytochrome P450 1A

CYP2B:

Cytochrome P450 2B

ESR1:

Estrogen receptor 1

HSP70:

Heat shock protein 70

GAPDH:

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

YWHAZ:

Tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein, zeta polypeptide

qRT-PCR:

Quantitative real time PCR

IUCN:

International union for conservation of nature

MPA:

Marine protected area

CITES:

Convention on international trade in endangered species

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Italian Ministry of the Environment for financing this research, Dr. Giancarlo Luariano (ISPRA), Dr. Simone Panigada (Tethys Research Institute) and Dr. Reanaud De Stephanis (CIRCE) for their valuable contribution during sampling. We also thank Dr. Maria Grazia Finoia (ISPRA) for her fundamental support in statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Evolutionary Biology Department, University of Siena, Via A. Moro 2, Siena, 53100, Italy

    Cristina Panti, Giacomo Spinsanti & Francesco Frati

  2. Environmental Sciences Department, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, Siena, 53100, Italy

    Letizia Marsili, Silvia Casini & Maria Cristina Fossi

Authors
  1. Cristina Panti
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  2. Giacomo Spinsanti
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  3. Letizia Marsili
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  4. Silvia Casini
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  5. Francesco Frati
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  6. Maria Cristina Fossi
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Correspondence to Cristina Panti.

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Cristina Panti and Giacomo Spinsanti contributed equally to this work.

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Panti, C., Spinsanti, G., Marsili, L. et al. Ecotoxicological diagnosis of striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Mediterranean basin by skin biopsy and gene expression approach. Ecotoxicology 20, 1791–1800 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-011-0713-2

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