Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXII, Issue 1
Written by Verginica SCHRÖDER, Mariana ARCUS, Andreea Hortanse ANGHEL, Florica BUSURICU, Anca Cristina LEPADATU
Morphogenesis and cellular differentiation present a remarkable interest in studies of cellular regeneration, cellular responses to xenobiotics or the evaluation of tumorigeneses and cytotoxicity induced by substances with therapeutic potential. The study of the process of cellular differentiation and its modifications under the influence of natural extracts was made on the larvae (naupliar stages) of Artemia salina. As a result of high sensitivity and accessibility in laboratory manipulation, the larvae of Artemia are used as animal models in the aquaculture, the assessment of acute cytotoxicity and brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA). The larvae in the growth period pass through a lot of moulting processes which are associated with epithelium cell divisions and the rearrangement of these in tissues structures within a period of several hours. The assessment of cellular differentiation was followed after the exposure of freshly hatched larvae to natural extracts. The effects of the compounds were measured by determining the survival rate of larvae and microscopically observing visible changes. Natural extracts from Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg, Chelidonium majus L., Tragopogon dubius Scop, Usnea barbata L., Galanthus elwesii Hook. were analyzed. A cytological study performed on these biotesters indicates a significant correlation between cell differentiation and metabolism. Some potentially cytotoxic compounds induce changes in organogenesis. The results highlight shape changes of the epithelial cells, alteration at intercellular connections, rearranging and reorganizing the primordium appendices cells and altering membrane and blocking cellular differentiation.
[Read full article] [Citation]
