Neanthes arenaceodentata (Polychaeta: Annelida), a Proposed Cytogenetic Model for Marine Genetic Toxicology

Genetic toxicants are present in polluted marine environments and may represent a long-term threat to populations of marine organisms. This paper presents details of an in vivo application of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis to a marine polychaete worm Neanthes arenaceodentata. This species exhibits a dose response to mitomycin C (MMC) at concentrations comparable to those eliciting responses in in vivo mammalian systems. A dose of 5 × 10−7 mol/L MMC increased the rate of SCE from a baseline frequency of 0.14/chromosome to 0.5/chromosome. The chromosomes of N. arenaceodentata may provide a useful model for identifying and studying the effects of genetic toxicants in marine environments.Key words: sister chromatid exchange, chromosome, marine worm, polychaete