Estrogen administration to the edible sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816)*

Zoosymposia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 247-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
SILVIA MERCURIO ◽  
MICHELA SUGNI ◽  
DENISE FERNANDES ◽  
CINTA PORTE ◽  
MARIA DANIELA CANDIA CARNEVALI
Keyword(s):  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
Gonad Index ◽  
Hormonal Treatment ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Maturation Stage ◽  
Physiological Values ◽  
Estrogen Administration

Despite the extensive use of sea urchins in embryology, the hormonal mechanisms regulating echinoid reproductive pro­cesses are scarcely known. This research is focused on the role of estradiol (E2), whose presence and seasonal variations in different echinoderm tissues have been previously reported. Three different concentrations of E2 were administered (via peristomial injection, 2/week) to adult specimens of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus for 2 and 12 weeks. The lowest concentration was close to physiological values, previously measured in field specimens. Despite the increase of circulating E2 in the coelomic fluids, neither short- nor long-term hormonal treatment induced marked variations in the considered reproductive parameters. The Gonad Index appeared to be more influenced by the feed intake than by E2. Similarly, the maturation stage of the gonads was not markedly affected by E2 injection, although some sex-specific dif­ferences could be observed: treated females never reached the maximum maturation stage compared to controls, although this was observed in males injected with the lowest E2 concentration. Although further research is needed to confirm our observations, according to the present study E2 does not markedly influence echinoid reproduction and, particularly, it does not promote female maturation, as reported for vertebrates and suggested for asteroid echinoderms.

Exploring endocrine regulation of sea urchin reproductive biology: effects of 17ß-oestradiol

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 1419-1426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Sugni ◽  
Daphne Motta ◽  
Paolo Tremolada ◽  
Maria Daniela Candia Carnevali
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Lipid Content ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
Gonad Index ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Maturation Stage ◽  
Endocrine Regulation ◽  
The Common ◽  
Definitive Role

Although several authors have suggested a plausible involvement of steroids in the reproductive biology of echinoderms, their definitive role is still poorly understood. In this paper we focused on oestradiol (E2), whose presence and variations were previously revealed in different echinoderm tissues. The aim of this investigation was to provide further information on the scarcely known role of this hormone in the reproductive biology of sea urchins. We injected two different concentrations (5 ng ml−1 and 50 ng ml−1) of 17ß-oestradiol into specimens of the common Paracentrotus lividus for 10 weeks. The E2 treatment did not influence the maturation stage of the gonads and the development of the gametes; it caused a slight decrease in the gonad index and an increase in lipid content. Our present results suggest that E2 could have a function different from that reported for vertebrates and suggested for other echinoderms such as asteroids.

scholarly journals Effects of Ethinylestradiol (EE2) and an Organophosphorus Flame Retardant (TCPP) on Gonadal Maturation in the Sea Urchin, Paracentrotus lividus

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 611
Author(s):  
Pedro Campoy-López ◽  
Estefanía Pereira-Pinto ◽  
Leonardo Mantilla-Aldana ◽  
Ricardo Beiras
Keyword(s):  
Flame Retardant ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Gonad Index ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Estrogenic Effects ◽  
Histological Damage ◽  
Initial Stage

The sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) was used to test the effects of one of the most abundant flame retardant additives for plastics, tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP), and the synthetic hormone ethinylestradiol (EE2) on gametogenesis and gonad development of adults. With this aim, 403 individuals of both sexes were exposed to TCPP concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 10 µg/L, EE2 (0.01 µg/L), seawater and solvent controls for 7 and 28 days. EE2 and TCPP exposure did not cause histological damage in the gonads. Some evidence of estrogenic effects of TCPP within the µg/L range and EE2 within the ng/L range is reported. Females exposed to 1 µg/L TCPP for 7 days showed a significant increase in gonad development assessed as gametogenic stage, females exposed to 10 µg/L TCPP showed increased gonad development both in terms of weight (Gonad Index, GI, at both 7 and 28 days) and maturation (Pixelar Index, PI), and females exposed to 10 ng/L EE2 showed increased PI after 28 days exposure. Male sea urchins exposed to both TCPP and EE2 for 7 days showed increased frequencies of low development gonad stage. However, the patterns of response are affected by the high inter-individual variability, the differing initial stage of the gonad, as well as the dosage administered.

scholarly journals Contrasting recruitment seasonality of sea urchin species in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (eastern Atlantic)

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 475 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. GARCIA-SANZ ◽  
P. G. NAVARRO ◽  
F. TUYA
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Gran Canaria ◽  
Arbacia Lixula

Despite sea-urchins can play an important role affecting the community structure of subtidal bottoms, factors controlling the dynamics of sea-urchin populations are still poorly understood. We assessed the seasonal variation in recruitment of three sea-urchin species (Diadema africanum, Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula) at Gran Canaria Island (eastern Atlantic) via monthly deployment of artificial collectors throughout an entire annual cycle on each of four adjacent habitat patches (seagrasses, sandy patches, ‘urchin-grazed’ barrens and macroalgal-dominated beds) within a shallow coastal landscape. Paracentrotus lividus and A. lixula had exclusively one main recruitment peak in late winter-spring. Diadema africanum recruitment was also seasonal, but recruits appeared in late summer-autumn, particularly on ‘urchin-grazed’ barrens with large abundances of adult conspecifics. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated non-overlapping seasonal recruitment patterns of the less abundant species (P. lividus and A. lixula) with the most conspicuous species (D. africanum) in the study area.

scholarly journals Diverse Transformers (Trf) Protein Family in the Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus Act through Collaboration between Cellular and Humoral Immune Effector Arms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iryna Yakovenko ◽  
Asaf Donnyo ◽  
Or Ioscovich ◽  
Benyamin Rosental ◽  
Matan Oren
Keyword(s):  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Protein Family ◽  
Immune Gene ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Purple Sea Urchin ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Extended Families

Sea urchins are long-living invertebrates with a complex immune system which includes extended families of immune receptors. A central immune gene family in the sea urchins encodes for the Transformer (Trf) proteins. The Trf family was so far studied mainly in the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. In this study, we explored this protein family in the Mediterranean Sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. The PlTrf genes and predicted proteins were found to be highly diverse and showed a typical Trf size range and structure. We found that P. lividus coelomocytes and hemolymph contain different PlTrf protein repertoires with a shared subset which specifically bind E. coli bacteria. Using FACS, we identified five different P. lividus coelomocyte sub-populations with cell surface Trf protein expression. The relative abundance of the Trf-positive cells sharply increased following immune challenge with E. coli bacteria, but not following challenge with LPS or sea urchin pathogen V. penaeicida. Finally, we demonstrated that the phagocytosis of E. coli bacteria by P. lividus phagocytes is mediated through the hemolymph and is inhibited by blocking Trf activity with anti-Trf antibodies. Together, our results suggest collaboration between cellular and humoral Trf-mediated effector arms in the P. lividus specific immune response to pathogens.

scholarly journals Complex Mixture-Associated Hormesis and Toxicity: The Case of Leather Tanning Industry

Dose-Response ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. dose-response.0 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Pagano ◽  
Giuseppe Castello ◽  
Marialuisa Gallo ◽  
Ilaria Borriello ◽  
Marco Guida
Keyword(s):  
Growth Inhibition ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Algal Growth ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Selenastrum Capricornutum ◽  
Tannery Effluent ◽  
Developmental Defects ◽  
Algal Growth Inhibition

A series of studies investigated the toxicities of tannery-derived complex mixtures, i.e. vegetable tannin (VT) from Acacia sp. or phenol-based synthetic tannin (ST), and wastewater from tannin-based vs. chromium-based tanneries. Toxicity was evaluated by multiple bioassays including developmental defects and loss of fertilization rate in sea urchin embryos and sperm ( Paracentrotus lividus and Sphaerechinus granularis), and algal growth inhibition ( Dunaliella tertiolecta and Selenastrum capricornutum). Both VT and ST water extracts resulted in hormetic effects at concentrations ranging 0.1 to 0.3%, and toxicity at levels ≥1%, both in sea urchin embryo and sperm, and in algal growth bioassays. When comparing tannin-based tannery wastewater (TTW) vs. chromium-based tannery effluent (CTE), a hormesis to toxicity trend was observed for TTW both in terms of developmental and fertilization toxicity in sea urchins, and in algal growth inhibition, with hormetic effects at 0.1 to 0.2% TTW, and toxicity at TTW levels ≥1%. Unlike TTW, CTE showed a monotonic toxicity increase from the lowest tested level (0.1%) and CTE toxicity at higher levels was significantly more severe than TTW-induced toxicity. The results support the view that leather production utilizing tannins might be regarded as a more environmentally friendly procedure than chromium-based tanning process.

scholarly journals Endocrine treatment of transsexual persons: an Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline: commentary from a European perspective

2010 ◽  
Vol 162 (5) ◽  
pp. 831-833 ◽  
Author(s):  
M C Meriggiola ◽  
E A Jannini ◽  
A Lenzi ◽  
M Maggi ◽  
C Manieri
Keyword(s):  
Hormonal Treatment ◽  
Diagnostic Procedures ◽  
Endocrine Treatment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sex Reassignment Surgery ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Endocrine Society ◽  
Diagnostic Role

The treatment of transsexual subjects is a challenging task for the endocrinologist who, in collaboration with the mental health professional and the surgeon, is called upon to confirm the diagnosis and adjust hormonal treatment aimed at suppressing endogenous sex hormones and to develop hormone characteristics of the desired gender. These guidelines are structured to provide evidence-based suggestions or, where evidence is lacking, expert recommendations on diagnostic procedures and hormonal treatment in adolescent and adult transsexuals, including long-term care and eligibility for surgery. The multidisciplinary approach to treatment, the additional diagnostic role of hormone administration and the need to maintain hormone levels within the physiological range are key suggestions stressed in the guidelines which are particularly important for an endocrinologist unfamiliar with this field. The need for psychological assessment before surgery is not common in many countries and should be stressed further in the guidelines. Some important issues such as time and method of hormone withdrawal before surgery together with when and which hormones should be administered after sex reassignment surgery has been completed also remain unclear.These guidelines represent a pivotal document for endocrinologists setting a standard for the care of transsexuals and providing directions for future research.

scholarly journals The impact of ocean acidification and warming on the skeletal mechanical properties of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus from laboratory and field observations

2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 727-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Collard ◽  
Samuel P. S. Rastrick ◽  
Piero Calosi ◽  
Yoann Demolder ◽  
Jean Dille ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Laboratory Experiment ◽  
Young’S Modulus ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
Young's Modulus ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Low Ph ◽  
Fracture Force ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Increased atmospheric CO2 concentration is leading to changes in the carbonate chemistry and the temperature of the ocean. The impact of these processes on marine organisms will depend on their ability to cope with those changes, particularly the maintenance of calcium carbonate structures. Both a laboratory experiment (long-term exposure to decreased pH and increased temperature) and collections of individuals from natural environments characterized by low pH levels (individuals from intertidal pools and around a CO2 seep) were here coupled to comprehensively study the impact of near-future conditions of pH and temperature on the mechanical properties of the skeleton of the euechinoid sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. To assess skeletal mechanical properties, we characterized the fracture force, Young's modulus, second moment of area, material nanohardness, and specific Young's modulus of sea urchin test plates. None of these parameters were significantly affected by low pH and/or increased temperature in the laboratory experiment and by low pH only in the individuals chronically exposed to lowered pH from the CO2 seeps. In tidal pools, the fracture force was higher and the Young's modulus lower in ambital plates of individuals from the rock pool characterized by the largest pH variations but also a dominance of calcifying algae, which might explain some of the variation. Thus, decreases of pH to levels expected for 2100 did not directly alter the mechanical properties of the test of P. lividus. Since the maintenance of test integrity is a question of survival for sea urchins and since weakened tests would increase the sea urchins' risk of predation, our findings indicate that the decreasing seawater pH and increasing seawater temperature expected for the end of the century should not represent an immediate threat to sea urchins vulnerability.

scholarly journals The Role of Models in Science: A Multicomprehensive Experience with the Sea Urchin Paracentrotus Lividus

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 ◽  
pp. 1404-1408
Author(s):  
Michela Sugni ◽  
Alice Barbaglio ◽  
Francesco Bonasoro ◽  
Mariarosa Gioria ◽  
Paola Fasano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Models In Science

scholarly journals Landscape configuration of seagrass meadows regulates sea urchins predation in a Marine Protected Area: what is the role of bottom predators?

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Farina ◽  
Silvia Oliva ◽  
Ivan Guala ◽  
Rodrigo Silva ◽  
Luigi Piazzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Landscape Configuration ◽  
Benthic Assemblages ◽  
Seagrass Meadows

In Mediterranean benthic ecosystems of shallow water local-scale predation maintains a main control on both sea urchin population and the ecological structure of macrophyte community. The use of the habitat by local predator guild in dependence on the regional context shapes prey distributions across the environment. On rocky habitat, the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus is widely known as prey of apex fish predators that indirectly shape the structure of benthic assemblages whereas, in structured Posidonia oceanica, P. lividus can find shelter from predators. In this study, we assessed survival rates of P. lividus in a Marine Protected Area (Sardinia) at the aim to evaluate the role of composition and configuration of landscape on its predation risk. Sites of different landscapes were selected in function of their heterogeneity estimated according to the different proportions and spatial interspersion of four classes of habitats defined on the basis of P. oceanica meadows arrangement: (1) continuous, (2) fragmented and (3) patchy meadows and (4) absence of seagrass (i.e. rocky bottom with macroalgae communities). In order to capture the domain of the ecological process a sampling grain 5x5 meters was used as minimal spatial resolution at which information is assessed. Specifically continuous sampling units in a grid of 7x7 cells yield landscape quadrats of 35 × 35 m and allowed a finer description of the spatial pattern. For each cell we also estimated structural variables of seagrass habitats such as unburied mat, shoot density, canopy height, cover percent, roughness and the natural abundances of prey and predators. After placing the tagged sea urchins, we daily observed the survival rates for twenty days. Predation risk was significantly higher in continuous and fragmented seagrass habitats and predator marks were typically produced by gastropod’s attacks. Landscape indices are used to correlate the amount of available habitat for gastropods movements with sea urchin’s predation risk. Interestingly, estimated predation rate also was negatively correlated with natural sea urchins density across grid cells. Results suggest that, although fishes are considered among the most important pressures on sea urchin population, especially in effective MPAs, bottom predators’ control can be relevant in structurally complex environment such as seagrasses.

scholarly journals Green Extraction Strategies for Sea Urchin Waste Valorization

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Marzorati ◽  
Giordana Martinelli ◽  
Michela Sugni ◽  
Luisella Verotta
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Green Extraction ◽  
Successive Extraction

Commonly known as “purple sea urchin,” Paracentrotus lividus occurs in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. This species is a highly appreciated food resource and Italy is the main consumer among the European countries. Gonads are the edible part of the animal but they represent only a small fraction (10–30%) of the entire sea urchin mass, therefore, the majority ends up as waste. Recently, an innovative methodology was successfully developed to obtain high-value collagen from sea urchin by-products to be used for tissue engineering. However, tissues used for the collagen extraction are still a small portion of the sea urchin waste (<20%) and the remaining part, mainly the carbonate-rich test and spines, are discarded. Residual cell tissues, tests, and spines contain polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, and a class of small polyphenols, called polyhydroxynaphthoquinones (PHNQ). PHNQ, due to their polyhydroxylated quinonoid nature, show remarkable pharmacologic effects, and have high economic significance and widespread application in several cosmetic and pharmaceuticals applications. A green extraction strategy aimed to obtain compounds of interest from the wastes of sea urchins was developed. The core strategy was the supercritical CO2 technique, characterized by low environmental impacts. Fatty acids and carotenoids were successfully and selectively extracted and identified depending on the physical parameters of the supercritical CO2 extraction. Finally, the exhausted powder was extracted by solvent-based procedures to yield PHNQ. The presence of Spinochrome A and Spinochrome B was confirmed and extracts were characterized by a remarkably high antioxidant activity, measured through the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. Overall, the selective and successive extraction methods were validated for the valorization of waste from sea urchins, demonstrating the feasibility of the techniques targeting added-value compounds.

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