Differential accumulation of PAHs within planarian cephalic and posterior body parts.

ABSTRACT

It has been observed that freshwater planarians can accumulate cadmium in their head portions, with neurotoxicity and head loss accompanying this phenomenon. Since planarians exhibit head loss and symptoms of neurotoxicity in response to PAHs, we investigated the differential accumulation of pyrene and B[a]P in the body and head portions of Girardia tigrina, a freshwater planarian. It is evidenced that planarian head fragments present higher amounts of pyrene- and B[a]P-equivalents than body fragments, indicating a differential distribution of these compounds within planarian tissues.