Environ Health Toxicol.  2018 Mar;33(1):e2018006. 10.5620/eht.e2018006.

Comparative study of oxidative stress caused by anthracene and alkyl-anthracenes in Caenorhabditis elegans

• Roh JY
• Kim PG
• Kwon JH

• KMID: 2434031
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5620/eht.e2018006

Abstract

Oxidative stress was evaluated for anthracene (Ant) and alkyl-Ants (9-methylanthracene [9-MA] and 9,10-dimethylanthracene [9,10-DMA]) in Caenorhabditis elegans to compare changes in toxicity due to the degree of alkylation. Worms were exposed at 1) the same external exposure concentration and 2) the maximum water-soluble concentration. Formation of reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase activity, total glutathione concentration, and lipid peroxidation were determined under constant exposure conditions using passive dosing. The expression of oxidative stress-related genes (daf-2, sir-2.1, daf-16, sod-1, sod-2, sod-3 and cytochrome 35A/C family genes) was also investigated to identify and compare changes in the genetic responses of C. elegans exposed to Ant and alkyl-Ant. At the same external concentration, 9,10-DMA induced the greatest oxidative stress, as evidenced by all indicators, except for lipid peroxidation, followed by 9-MA and Ant. Interestingly, 9,10-DMA led to greater oxidative stress than 9-MA and Ant when worms were exposed to the maximum water-soluble concentration, although the maximum water-soluble concentration of 9,10-DMA is the lowest. Increased oxidative stress by alkyl-Ants would be attributed to higher lipid-water partition coefficient and the π electron density in aromatic rings by alkyl substitution, although this supposition requires further confirmation.

Keyword

Oxidative stress; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Passive dosing; Gene expression; Caenorhabditis elegans

MeSH Terms

Alkylation
Ants
Caenorhabditis elegans*
Caenorhabditis*
Cytochromes
Gene Expression
Glutathione
Humans
Lipid Peroxidation
Oxidative Stress*
Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic
Reactive Oxygen Species
Superoxide Dismutase
Cytochromes
Glutathione
Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic
Reactive Oxygen Species
Superoxide Dismutase