Relationship between trans-generational effects of tetracycline on Daphnia magna at the physiological and whole organism level

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 191; pp. 111 - 118
• Main Authors: Kim, Hyun Young, Yu, Seungho, Jeong, Tae-yong, Kim, Sang Don
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acute mortality; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - toxicity; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Applied ecology; Balancing; Biological and medical sciences; Daphnia - drug effects; Daphnia magna; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Exposure; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Medical sciences; Molecular biomarkers; Multi-generational toxicity; Organisms; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Reproduction - drug effects; Reserves; Tetracycline; Tetracycline - toxicity; Tetracyclines; Toxic; Toxicity; Toxicity Tests, Chronic; Toxicology; Water; Multi-generational toxicity; Molecular biomarkers; Daphnia magna; Tetracycline; Acute mortality; Organism; Toxicity; Acute; Mortality; Cladocera; Multigeneration study; Biological marker; Crustacea; Energy balance; Antibiotic; Arthropoda; Water pollution; Invertebrata; Branchiopoda
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.04.022

The effects of pharmaceuticals have been underestimated during single generation exposure. Therefore, in this study, we investigated toxic responses at the physiological and whole organism level in tetracycline-exposed Daphnia magna over four consecutive generational lifecycles. The results showed that tetracycline affected energy-related physiological functions in concentration- and generation-dependent manners, and especially maintenance costs increased. Consequently, multigenerational exposure to tetracycline induced changes in energy balance, resulting in the change of higher levels of biological responses. In contrast, D. magna acclimated to tetracycline exposure over multiple generations, as evidenced by the increased LC50 values. Transgenerational adaptation was related to the neonatal sensitivity and energy reserves of the organism. The results also emphasized the idea that the number of generation is an important factor for toxicity. The present study confirmed that toxic stress induces metabolic changes in an organism, thereby leading to increased energy consumption that results in adverse effects on reproduction. •Transgenerational adaptation of D. magna to tetracycline was observed.•TCN affected energy-related physiological function and increased maintenance energy.•LC50 value of TCN increased with increasing concentration and generation.•The number of exposure generation may be an important factor for toxicity. The change in internal energy balance in daphnids during multigenerational exposure to tetracycline may explain whole organism responses.