TY - JOUR AU - Stojanović, Jelena S. AU - Milošević, Đurađ D. AU - Vitorović, Jelena S. AU - Savić Zdravković, Dimitrija N. AU - Stanković, Nikola R. AU - Stanković, Jelena B. AU - Vasiljević, Perica J. PY - 2021/10/12 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Histopathology of Chironomus riparius (Diptera, Chironomidae) exposed to metal oxide nanoparticles JF - Archives of Biological Sciences JA - Arch Biol Sci VL - 73 IS - 3 SE - Articles DO - 10.2298/ABS210515025S UR - https://www.serbiosoc.org.rs/arch/index.php/abs/article/view/6624 SP - 319-329 AB - <p><strong>Paper description:</strong></p><ul><li><em>Chironomus riparius</em> is a model organism in ecotoxicology. Histological analysis of its internal morphology could help identify biomarkers of the effects of sublethal concentrations of pollutants.</li><li>4<sup>th</sup> instar larvae of <em> riparius </em>were exposed to sublethal concentrations of TiO<sub>2</sub>, CeO<sub>2</sub> and Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticle and histological analysis was performed.</li><li>Nano-Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> and nano-Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/nano-CeO<sub>2</sub> exposure caused vacuolization of epithelial cells of midgut region I and Malpighian tubules, respectively; nano-TiO<sub>2</sub> exposure altered fat body and midgut region II tissue architecture; nano-Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4 </sub>shortened the intestinal brush border.</li><li>The identified histopathological biomarkers of <em> riparius</em> larvae improve existing methodology in water quality assessment.</li></ul><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>As the production of metal-based nanomaterials increases, it is inevitable that nano-scale products and byproducts will enter the aquatic environment. In terms of global production, the most abundant nano-oxides are TiO<sub>2</sub>, CeO<sub>2</sub> and Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles. <em>Chironomus</em> <em>riparius</em> is commonly used for ecotoxicological assessment and defining its histopathological biomarkers that showcase the toxic effect of tested nanoparticles should lead to a better understanding of the consequences of nanomaterial accumulation in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, a histological description of the digestive and excretory systems as well as the fat body structure of <em>C. riparius</em> larvae is provided. In addition, potential histological biomarkers of nano-oxide toxicity were determined based on the obtained histopathological alterations in organs. Vacuolization was observed in epithelial cells of midgut region I that were treated with nano-Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> as well as in Malpighian tubules treated with nano-Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> and nano-CeO<sub>2</sub>. Larvae exposed to nano-TiO<sub>2</sub> showed alterations in the fat body and midgut region II tissue architecture. Additionally, shortening of the intestinal brush border was determined in groups exposed to nano-Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>. These results reveal the high sensitivity of these organs, which can be used as biomarkers in histopathological assessment and therefore lead to further improvement of existing methodology in ecotoxicological studies.</p><p> </p> ER -