Polychlorinated biphenyls are selectively neurotoxic in the developing Spisula solidissima embryo

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that accumulate to toxic levels in the food chain. Using Spisula solidissima ( surf clam) embryos as a developmental model, it was shown that Aroclor 1254 specifically targets two neuronal structures during embryonic development. Embryos were exposed to 1, 10, or 100 ppm Aroclor 1254 or an acetone vehicle control posthatching for 24, 48, and 72 h. Embryos labeled with a serotonin antibody or a neural antigen antibody and a rhodamine-conjugated secondary antibody were viewed by confocal microscopy. The cerebropleural ganglion showed a decrease both in serotonin production and in the size of the serotonin-synthesizing region upon exposure to 10 and 100 ppm Aroclor 1254. These decreases were detectable as early as 48 h postfertilization. When exposed to 100 ppm Aroclor 1254, the primitive neural plexus, which coordinates the movements of the mouth and velum, showed a delay in onset and cessation of expression of a molluscan-specific neural antigen. Exposure to Aroclor 1254 did not affect the overall growth and morphology of the embryos. In addition, analyses of total protein profiles and heat-shock protein 70 levels showed that exposure to Aroclor 1254 did not trigger protein degradation or cause a stress or shock response. These results show that exposure of Spisula embryos to Aroclor 1254 specifically targets neurogenesis while having no effect on the overall growth of the embryo.