Department of Ecology, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza 87036, Italy.
Micron. 2012 Feb;43(2-3):183-91. doi: 10.1016/j.micron.2011.07.011. Epub 2011 Jul 27.
Nonylphenols ethoxylates (NPEs) are surface active agents (surfactants) commonly used in cleaning products, in industrial processes, agricultural formulations and paints. They are found in sewage, municipal wastewaters and industrial effluents, and as contaminants in water bodies. Accumulating data suggest that exposure to NPEs can adversely affects functional properties of the neurologic, reproductive, immune, and endocrine systems. In order to examine whether NPEs exert similar damaging effects on the cardiovascular system, we used an amphibian model to examine the ultrastructural alterations of the ventricular myocardium following exposure to NPEs. Adult Lissotriton italicus in the aquatic phase were exposed to NPE10 (100 μg/L, ppb) for 96 h. Heart specimens were collected from a total of 10 individuals and processed for scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Our ultrastructural examinations demonstrated that amphibian ventricle is susceptible to the effects of NPEs. The most pronounced alterations were observed in the membrane compartments of both myocardial and endothelial cells as demonstrated by the presence of swollen mitochondria with disrupted cristae and dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum. We suggest that destabilization of the lipid milieu within membranes might represent one of the potential mechanisms by which NPEs exert their toxic effects on amphibian heart.
壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚（NPEs）是一种常用的表面活性剂（表面活性剂），用于清洁产品、工业过程、农业制剂和油漆中。它们存在于污水、城市废水中和工业废水中，并且是水体中的污染物。越来越多的数据表明，接触 NPEs 会对神经系统、生殖系统、免疫系统和内分泌系统的功能特性产生不利影响。为了研究 NPEs 是否对心血管系统产生类似的损害作用，我们使用两栖动物模型研究了 NPEs 暴露后心室心肌的超微结构改变。处于水生阶段的成年意大利蟾蜍（ Lissotriton italicus ）被暴露于 NPE10（100μg/L，ppb）中 96 小时。从总共 10 个个体中收集心脏标本，并进行扫描和透射电子显微镜处理。我们的超微结构检查表明，两栖动物心室容易受到 NPEs 的影响。最明显的改变发生在心肌和内皮细胞的膜区室中，表现为嵴中断的肿胀线粒体和扩张的粗面内质网。我们认为，膜内脂环境的不稳定性可能是 NPEs 对两栖动物心脏产生毒性作用的潜在机制之一。
