In vitro cultivation of primary intestinal cells from Eisenia fetida as basis for ecotoxicological studies
Völkl, Matthias
Holzinger, Anja
Jasinski, Julia
Jérôme, Valérie
Scheibel, Thomas
Feldhaar, Heike
Freitag, Ruth
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-021-02495-2
Persistent URL: http://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gldocs-11858/11199
Völkl, Matthias; Process Biotechnology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
Holzinger, Anja; Animal Ecology I, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
Jasinski, Julia; Biomaterials, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
Jérôme, Valérie; Process Biotechnology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
Scheibel, Thomas; Biomaterials, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
Feldhaar, Heike; Animal Ecology I, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
Freitag, Ruth; Process Biotechnology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
Abstract
The earthworm Eisenia fetida is a commonly used model organism for unspecific soil feeders in ecotoxicological studies. Its intestinal cells are the first to encounter possible pollutants co-ingested by the earthworm, which makes them prime candidates for studies of toxic effects of environmental pollutants on the cellular as compared to the organismic level. In this context, the aim of this study was to demonstrate the suitability of preparations of primary intestinal E. fetida cells for in vitro ecotoxicological studies. For this purpose, a suitable isolation and cultivation protocol was established. Cells were isolated directly from the intestine, maintaining >85% viability during subsequent cultivations (up to 144 h). Exposure to established pollutants and soil elutriates comprising silver nanoparticles and metal ions (Cu2+, Cd2+) induced a significant decrease in the metabolic activity of the cells. In case of microplastic particles (MP particles), namely 0.2, 0.5, 2.0, and 3.0 µm diameter polystyrene (PS) beads as well as 0.5 and 2.0 µm diameter polylactic acid (PLA) beads, no active uptake was observed. Slight positive as well as negative dose and size dependent effects on the metabolism were seen, which to some extent might correlate with effects on the organismic level.