Environmental Toxicology

Effects of tributyltin exposure in hermit crabs: Clibanarius vittatus as a model

  1. Bruno Sampaio Sant'Anna1,2,†,*,
  2. Dayana Moscardi dos Santos3,
  3. Mary Rosa Rodrigues de Marchi4,
  4. Fernando José Zara1,5,
  5. Alexander Turra2

Article first published online: 6 FEB 2012

DOI: 10.1002/etc.1724

Issue

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Volume 31, Issue 3, pages 632–638, March 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Sant'Anna, B. S., dos Santos, D. M., de Marchi, M. R. R., Zara, F. J. and Turra, A. (2012), Effects of tributyltin exposure in hermit crabs: Clibanarius vittatus as a model. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 31: 632–638. doi: 10.1002/etc.1724

Author Information

  1. 1

    Zoology Section, Postgraduate Course in Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, Brazil

  2. 2

    Department of Biological Oceanography, Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

  3. 3

    Department of Chemical and Geological Oceanography, Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

  4. 4

    Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, Brazil

  5. 5

    Department of Applied Biology and Aquaculture Center, Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, Brazil

  1. †

    Institute of Exact Sciences and Technology, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Itacoatiara, Brazil.

*Zoology Section, Postgraduate Course in Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, Brazil.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 FEB 2012
  2. Article first published online: 6 FEB 2012
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 21 DEC 2011 06:17PM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 30 OCT 2011
  5. Manuscript Revised: 4 OCT 2011
  6. Manuscript Received: 31 AUG 2011

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Keywords:

  • Tributyltin (TBT);
  • Hermit crabs;
  • Gonad atrophy;
  • Pollution

Abstract

Tributyltin (TBT) contamination affects the reproductive system of many species of invertebrates worldwide. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of exposure to TBT pollution on the reproduction of the hermit crab Clibanarius vittatus. An orthogonal experiment was designed with two treatments: contamination (with or without TBT in the food) and crab sex (males and females). The animals were reared in the laboratory for nine months, and macroscopic and histological analyses of reproductive organs were carried out after the end of the experiment. Tributyltin was recorded in exposed crabs, but no morphological alterations were detected in the gonads of males, regardless of whether they were exposed to TBT. In contrast, females exposed to TBT displayed disorganization and atrophy of their ovaries, thus directly affecting reproduction in this hermit crab species. This effect observed in female hermit crabs may harm populations located in harbor regions, where TBT concentration is high, even after the worldwide TBT ban. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:632–638. © 2011 SETAC

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