Lead Accumulation within Nuclei of Moss Leaf Cells

Skaar, H.; Ophus, E. M.; Gullvåg, B. M.

doi:10.1038/241215a0

Cited by 78 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Theoretically, the absorption and precipitation of heavy metals by Dicranella provide a possible natural method of detoxification of spoil heap soils. Skaar et al (1973), in their electron microscopic studies of the leaves of the moss Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus cultured in the laboratory by watering once a day for 3 weeks with lead acetate solution and of samples collected in a Pb-polluted area, observed lead accumulation within the nuclei of moss leaf cells. The binding of Pb within the nuclear membrane, as a non-diffusible complex, has been suggested as the mechanism whereby the cytoplasmic concentration of diffusible Pb substances within the cell can be kept below a level that would otherwise be toxic to the mitochondrial or other lead-sensitive functions of the cytoplasm.…”

Section: Metal Tolerance and Detoxification Mechanisms Of Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of Bryophytes to Air Pollution

Rao¹

1982

Bryophyte Ecology

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(Watson, 1947). There is ample evidence that some bryophytes can be used as reliable indicators of air pollution (LeBlanc and Rao, 1974, 1975). Taoda (1973a) suggested the use of bryophytes as bryo-meters, instruments for measuring phytotoxic air pollution. BRYOPHYTES VERSUS AIR POLLUTIONEcologists in several countries have noted the impoverishment of bryophytic communities in and around cities and industrial areas (Barkman, 1961;LeBlanc, 1961;Rao and LeBlanc, 1967;Gilbert, 1968;Daly, 1970). Many bryophytes have become extinct in urban industrial environments because of their sensitivity to polluted air (LeBlanc and Rao, 1973a). According to Barkman (1969), within the last century the Dutch flora has lost 15% of its terrestrial bryophytes and 13% of its epiphytic bryophytes, and in Amsterdam alone 23 species of bryophytes which occurred in the year 1900 are now extinct. Delvosalle et al. (1969) observed that, among some 600 species of bryophytes which were indigenous to Belgium in 1850, nearly 114 have disappeared and 34 are now very rare. They attribute this change to direct and indirect effects of human activities, especially to air pollution. LeBlanc and De Sloover (1970) reported that some bryophyte species which were common on Mount Royal in the city of Montreal about 50 years ago are now extremely rare and some species have disappeared altogether. Similarly, many of the most common bryophytes in Northumberland, England are totally absent from a large part of the lower Tyne Valley where scattered colliery towns, burning pit heaps, and the huge conurbation of Newcastle-upon-Tyne are sources of air pollution (Gilbert, 1968).Transplantation experiments have shown that bryophytes die within a short period of time, depending on the level of pollution, when transferred along with their substrates from unpolluted to polluted areas in a city or around a factory Daly, 1970; LeBlanc etal. , 1971 LeBlanc etal. , , 1976.The major air pollutants in metropolitan areas are usually smoke, containing sulphur dioxide, soot and fly ash, and automobile exhaust fumes containing carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, aldehydes, lead and other compounds. These pollutants can affect organisms either individually or in combination of two or more. When in combination, their effect can be antagonistic, synergistic or neutral. The nature of emissions from an industrial plant depend upon the fuel burned and the product manufactured; for example, sulphur dioxide is emitted from thermal power plants or iron sintering plants, and hydrogen fluoride from phosphate fertilizer plants or aluminium factories. Responses of Bryophytes to Air Pollution 447Gaseous pollutants so far investigated with respect to bryophyte sensitivity are sulphur dioxide (S02), hydrogen fluoride (HF) and ozone (03 ). The presence of particulate pollutants, such as air-borne minerals including heavy metals and radioactive materials, have been detected using bryophytes.Since urban and industrial environments comprise a series of habitats with...

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Section: Metal Tolerance and Detoxification Mechanisms Of Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of Bryophytes to Air Pollution

Rao¹

1982

Bryophyte Ecology

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“…2 It is potentially damaging to water and soil resources, as well as a serious threat to human health. Many studies have shown that environmental remediation can be accomplished using plants such as corn 2 , sunflower 2 , brassica 3 and moss 4 . The transmission electron microscope (TEM) is a useful tool for analyzing metal and metal-composite specimens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No lead was deposited in the root up to a week after treatment. Skaar et al 4 demonstrated, through TEM studies in lead exclusion, lead accumulation in vacuoles, mitochondria, chloroplasts and nuclei of Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus from Trondheim, Norway. Brown and Buck 6 found that most lead and zinc were bound to the cell wall in Grimmia donniana.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Panich-pat¹,

Srinives²,

Kruatrachue³

et al. 2005

ScienceAsia

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A greenhouse study was conducted to observe the localization of lead in narrow-leaved cattail, Typha angustifolia. Light and transmission electron microscopic studies were performed on root, rhizome and leaf of the cattail grown in control (75 kg dry weight of soil with no added lead) and in the same weight of soil amended with 20,000 mg lead nitrate. At 15 and 90 days after planting, most lead was accumulated in root cells around vacuoles and slowly transported to leaves. In the lead-contaminated soil, parts of the root cell wall were damaged at the end of the experiment. Lead was deposited in the rhizome near the cell wall. Similar deposits were observed in the roots and rhizomes suggesting that lead was transported and localized in a similar area, whereas the leaf cells accumulated lead in the chloroplasts.

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“…Furthermore, the intranuclear inclusions have been reported to be present in liver (Blackman, 19361, osteoclasts (Hsu et al, 1973), cultured kidney cells (Walton and Buckly, 19771, and moss leaf cells (Skarr and Ophus, 1973). It was generally considered that the intranuclear inclusions contain lead in a n inert compound, and the cells are protected from the toxic effect of lead in this way.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of lead in renal proximal convoluted tubules of lead‐poisoned rats

Zhong

Yiping

et al. 1987

J. Elec. Microsc. Tech.

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Intranuclear inclusions have been found in epithelial cells of renal proximal convoluted tubules (RPCT) in lead poisoned animals. It has been suggested previously that the inclusions contained lead. The present report gives evidence to the contrary. Samples of renal cortex were taken from adult rats fed laboratory chow containing 2% lead acetate for 1 month. Under the electron microscope (EM), intranuclear inclusions were observed in epithelial cells of RPCT. They were round or ovoid, and not delineated by a membrane. They consisted of two parts: Peripheral and central. Lysosomes increased in number, and many myelin figures appeared in the cytoplasm. In the lumen of the tubules, high electron-dense concretions were found. By x-ray microranalysis, neither the central part nor the peripheral part of the intranuclear inclusions produced a lead peak in the spectrum. Lysosomes and the cytoplasmic matrix also showed no lead peak. However, when the electron beam was focused on the concretion in the lumen of the RPCT, the L, peak of lead (10.551 keV) and K, peak of calcium (3.691 keV) were evident. From these findings it is suggested that intranuclear inclusions in the cells of RPCT are not lead deposits. Rather, it is the concretions found in the lumen of tubule that contain lead.

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Lead Accumulation within Nuclei of Moss Leaf Cells

Cited by 78 publications

References 8 publications

Responses of Bryophytes to Air Pollution

Responses of Bryophytes to Air Pollution

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Distribution of lead in renal proximal convoluted tubules of lead‐poisoned rats

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