Gonadal histopathology and inflammatory response in the freshwater snail exposed to iron oxide nanoparticles and ferric chloride: insights into reproductive nanotoxicity

Abstract

Considering that most animals in an aquatic ecosystem are invertebrates, concerns about the ecotoxicological impact of emerging pollutants, such as nanomaterials, in these populations are relevant, which can lead to loss of aquatic biodiversity. However, knowledge concerning the effects of iron-based nanoparticles (IONPs) at cell and tissue-levels on freshwater gastropods remains limited. Thus, the present study aimed to analyse the histopathological changes and inflammatory response in the freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata after chronic exposure to gluconic-acid functionalized IONPs (GLA-IONPs) in comparison with their dissolved counterpart (FeCl3). Snails were exposed to both iron forms (1.0, 2.5, 6.25, and 15.62 mg L−1) for 28 days, and the qualitative and quantitative histopathological assessment on hermaphrodite gonads was conducted, following by analysis of histopathological indices and inflammatory responses. Results showed that both iron forms (GLA-IONPs and FeCl3) induced several gonadal histopathologies in the snails, mainly atresic acini, vacuolization of pre-vitellogenic oocytes, and atresic oocytes in a concentration-dependent pattern. GLA-IONPs induced a more intense inflammatory response and high frequency of vacuolized vitellogenic oocytes in comparison with FeCl3. Environmentally relevant concentration (2.5 mg L−1) of GLA-IONPs and FeCl3 induced high gonadal histopathological indices, indicating their potential reproductive toxicity. The current study showed that the chronic exposure of snails to GLA-IONPs and their dissolved counterpart (FeCl3) induced several gonadal histopathological changes and inflammatory responses in B. glabrata, confirming their potential risk to aquatic biodiversity.