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Data Protection Declaration
Imprint
Mechanistic investigation of the influence of potential ED in the model organism C. elegans
Project
Project code: BfR-TOX-08-1322-732
Contract period: 01.09.2018
- 31.12.2019
Purpose of research: Experimental development
Increasing concerns about endocrine-disrupting chemicals, biocides or plant protection products (EDs) have led, among other things, to various European regulations regulating potential EDs particularly tightly. For this reason, there is currently a great need for predictive test methods for ED identification and evaluation. The disruption of hormone homeostasis can affect numerous downstream cellular processes that play important roles in growth, development, reproduction and the immune system and can increase susceptibility to specific diseases. In vulnerable life phases, such as prenatal, the development of tissues and organs or the cell differentiation of embryos and foetuses can be affected negatively. In this context, not only potential ED effects on the organisms directly exposed in the development phase, but also effects on their offspring are discussed and considered particularly controversially. Here, a distinction is made between sustained exposure - multigenerational exposure - and transmission of effects without exposure of the offspring - transgenerational transmission of effects. Both scenarios can hardly be mimicked in in-vitro models and are very time and resource-consuming in classical rodent models. In addition, there is a very contradictory data situation - especially with regard to transgenerational effects of ED - which is partly due to the lack of careful mechanistic investigations. Therefore, we want to use the established model organism C. elegans to investigate these questions. This model organism allows for the observation of potential adverse effects in several generations within a short period of time and also allows the investigation of possible mechanisms. The initial focus of this project is to map adverse effects of different potential ED in exposed individuals in suitable C. elegans test systems. For this purpose, already established assays (e.g. for size development and reproduction) are available in our laboratory, but further suitable tests are also being developed. Here, endpoints meeting two criteria are primarily addressed: 1. endpoints for which it was already described that they can be influenced by multigenerational and/or transgenerational exposure, and 2. endpoints for which it was already described that they are influenced by exposure to ED (independent of the exposure scenario). These endpoints include, for example, the alteration of fat content/metabolism of C. elegans. Based on expected ED effects in exposed individuals, the experiments will then be extended to multi- and transgenerational exposure scenarios. Particular attention will be paid to the mechanisms underlying the potential effect transfer.
Section overview
Subjects
- Process engineering
- Toxicology
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
BfR - Department 9: Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET (BfR - TOX)
