Physiological and Morphogenetic Effects of Monophenyltin Trichloride on Ocenebra erinacea (L.)

Hawkins, Lawrence and Hutchinson, S. (1990) Physiological and Morphogenetic Effects of Monophenyltin Trichloride on Ocenebra erinacea (L.). Functional Ecology, 4 (3), 449-454. (doi:10.2307/2389608).

Abstract

Trialkyltin compounds (butyl and phenyl) have been used in marine paints as antifoulants. These compounds degrade naturally in a process that involves the progressive removal of the organic groups attached to the tin atom. The biological activity of these organotins has been shown to decrease from the trialkyltin through dialkyltin to the monoalkyltin forms. Although these compounds are effective against their target organisms they and their degradation products have widespread and deleterious effects on non-fouling species, even when diluted to sub-lethal concentration. For example, the occurrence of abnormal penile morphogenesis (imposex) in females of the neogastropods Nucella lapillus (L.) and Ocenebra erinacea (L.) has been correlated with elevated environmental concentrations of TBT and its degradation products. Evidence is presented that demonstrates measurable sub-lethal effects of a less active form of organotin (monophenyltin = MPhT) on penile length and hydromineral regulation in O. erinacea. Specimens were collected from two sites on the south and south-western coasts of Britain, i.e. the western Solent and south Devon. It was found that exposure to MPhT increased penile length in males and females from the south Devon site but a reduction was observed in animals from the western Solent. There was also a reduction in the diffusional water permeabilities and activities of ionophoretic enzymes of the MPhT-treated animals from both groups compared to their respective controls.

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Author: Lawrence Hawkins

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