BENZODIAZEPINE DELORAZEPAM INTERFERENCE WITH EARLY PARACENTROTUS LIVIDUS DEVELOPMENT

Pharmaceutical active compounds and benzodiazepines, in particular, are discharged in aquatic environments at ng to µg/L concentrations and their interference with aquatic flora and fauna is becoming a matter of emerging concern. This work assessed the disrupting effects of delorazepam on sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus development. To this purpose, three near-future concentrations (1, 5, and 10 µg/L) of delorazepam were used in four parallel experiments: to 1) pre-treat eggs or 2) sperm, or to treat 3) gametes at fertilization, or 4) fertilized eggs. The endpoints considered were fertilization rate, percentage of normal or altered morulae and plutei. The presence and localization of carbohydrate residues on plutei were also determined by staining with a panel of fluorescent lectins. Results indicate that delorazepam profoundly interferes with fertilization and development, significantly increasing the percentage of altered plutei. The effects are exerted mainly on sperm and sperm/egg interaction.