Abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been increasingly more prevalent due to their use in product technology owing to their exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity and tensile strength because of their nanostructure and strength of the bonds among carbon atoms. The potential increase of CNTs in the environment is a concern, and studies to assess the toxic effects of these nanomaterials (NMs) are needed. However, so far, most of the studies are focused on aquatic species and much less is understood about the effects of NM in terrestrial organisms. This investigation used a functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (f-MWCNT) and the Jamaican cricket Gryllus assimilis to assess the effects of this NM. Cricket nymphs were injected with f-MWCNT suspension—at three different concentrations. The insecticide Fipronil was used as a positive control. Survival was monitored, and histological analysis was made in the brains. Pyknotic cells were quantified in two brain regions, a neurosecretory called Pars intercerebralis (PI), and an associative region called mushroom body (MB). No mortality was observed in any f-MWCNT concentration tested. A significant increase in pyknotic cells was observed as sub-lethal effect for the intermediate concentration of f-MWCNT, at PI, while any significant change was observed at the Kenyon cells of the MB. These results are discussed in the context of agglomeration and dispersion of the f-MWCNT at different concentrations, and availability of the f-MWCNT on the circulatory system, as well as the natural decay of pyknotic cells with time and different patterns of adult cricket neurogenesis. Our results showed that f-MWCNT had negative effects in the neurosecretory region of the brain.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Grupo de Materiais Poliméricos Multicomponentes do DQ/ICEx/UFMG for the collaboration. The authors are grateful to the undergraduate students for helping in insect colony maintenance: Michel Machado da Silva, and Kathellen Pintado Esteves.
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Row data were generated at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG) (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). The datasets used are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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This work was partially supported by the Brazilian Institute of Science and Technology (INCT) in Carbon Nanomaterials and the Brazilian agencies Fapemig, CAPES and CNPq (grant number: 435890/2018-2). DMB was sponsored with productivity research fellowships from the Brazilian National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). GEV is fellowship of PDJ program of CNPQ (grant number: 151537/2019-4), ABZ and GML received scholarship from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), financial code: 001.
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ABZ, GML, DBF, GEB, and DMB, designed this research. ABZ and GML prepared the material, conducted experimental analysis and the collection of all biological data. PSCO characterized the used NM. Complete supervision was done by DBF, GEB, and DMB. All authors contributed to the writing and approved the final manuscript.
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Zacouteguy, A.M.B., Limberger, G.M., de Oliveira, P.S.C. et al. The adverse effects of injected functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (f-MWCNT) on in vivo neurosecretory brain cells of Jamaican field cricket, Gryllus assimilis. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 66968–66977 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15308-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15308-0