Abstract
The unprecedented decline in amphibian populations is reported to be caused by several factors, including environmental contaminants of agriculture pesticides. In natural conditions, application of pesticides or other chemicals to crop fields coincides with breeding seasons of many amphibian species inhabiting the agro-ecosystem, resulting in exposure of eggs, tadpoles, and metamorphs. Glycoconjugates are key molecules in cell adhesion and signaling in higher invertebrates and vertebrates. In amphibians, sialic acid of free glycoconjugates in egg jelly facilitates the adherence of spermatozoa to the egg surface. Considering the possibility of exposure of amphibian eggs to pesticides in agro-ecosystems, the present study was undertaken to determine the effect of different concentrations of malathion and methyl parathion pesticides on the eggs of Fejervarya limnocharis (Indian Cricket frog). Following thiobarbituric acid and fertilization assay, changes in sialic acid content and egg hatchability were measured in eggs exposed to the two pesticides, respectively, for different time intervals. Sialic acid content and hatchability were reduced significantly in eggs treated with pesticides. The time of exposure has also an influence on the amount of sialic acid content and egg hatchability. The results demonstrate that exposure to pesticides alters sialic acid content in jelly coat of amphibian eggs leading to inhibition of sperm penetration.
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Acknowledgment
This work was carried out with the munificent help of University Grants Commission (Project No.F.3-65/2001 (SR-II)), Dr. D.S. Kothari Post Doctoral Fellowship (F.4-2/ 2006(BSR)/13-74/2008) to Dr. H.P. Gurushankara, and logical support from University of Mysore, Mysore. Authors are also thankful to Prof. P.R. Sudhakaran, Prof. Oommen V. Oommen, and Prof. C. Rajamanickam, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, for constructive comments and suggestions of this manuscript.
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Gurushankara, H.P., Krishnamurthy, S.V., Vasudev, V. (2012). Changes in Sialic Acid Content of Jelly Coat in Pesticide-Exposed Frog Eggs and Their Influence on Fertilization. In: Sudhakaran, P., Surolia, A. (eds) Biochemical Roles of Eukaryotic Cell Surface Macromolecules. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 749. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3381-1_22
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