Effects of phenanthrene on early development of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1789)

Phenanthnere (PHE) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon continuously discarded in the marine environment and bioavailable to many aquatic species. Although studies about PHE toxicity have been documented for adult oysters, the effects on early developmental stages are poorly characterized in bivalves. In this study, the effects of PHE (0.02 and 2.0 μg.L−1) were evaluated on the embryogenesis and larval development of Crassostrea gigas. Toxicity bioassays, growth and deformities assessment, analysis of shell calcium abundance and transcript levels of genes related to xenobiotic biotransformation (CYP2AU2, CYP30C1), immune system (Cg-Tal) and tissue growth and shell formation (Ferritin, Insulin-like, Cg-Try, Calmodulin and Nacrein) were assayed in D-shape larvae after 24 h of PHE exposure. At the highest concentration (2.0 μg.L−1), PHE decreased the frequency of normal development (19.7 ± 2.9%) and shell size (53.5 ± 2.8 mm). Developmental deformities were mostly related to abnormal mantle and shell formation. Lower calcium levels in oyster shells exposed to PHE 2.0 μg.L−1 were observed, suggesting effects on shell structure. At this same PHE concentration, CYP30C1, Cg-Tal, Cg-Tyr, Calmodulin were upregulated and CYP2AU2, Ferritin, Nacrein, and Insulin-Like were downregulated compared to control larvae. At the lowest PHE concentration (0.02 μg.L−1), it was observed a minor decrease in normal larval development (89,6 ± 6%) and the remaining parameters were not affected. This is the first study to provide evidences that exposure to PHE can affect early oyster development at the molecular and morphological levels, possibly threatening this bivalve species.