Quantitative alterations in the structure of the digestive cell of Littorina littorea on exposure to cadmium

Vega, M. M.; Marigómez, J. A.; Angulo, E.

doi:10.1007/bf00399587

Cited by 56 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Morphometric changes in digestive tissues have been used as common biomarkers for pollution exposure of anthropogenic and volcanic origin (Marigomez et al, 1996;Vega et al, 1989;Amaral et al, 2006a;Cunha et al, 2008). However, the present study shows that this trait is not reliable as a marker of the chronic metal exposure of P. unipuncta larvae, since the mean digestive epithelium thickness did not differ between both sites.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 75%

Bioavailability of heavy metals and their effects on the midgut cells of a phytopaghous insect inhabiting volcanic environments

Rodrigues¹,

Cunha²,

Amaral³

et al. 2008

Science of The Total Environment

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Organisms living in volcanic environments are chronically exposed to metals, either as particles or associated with gases, from volcanic emissions, being therefore potential sentinels of the effects derived from such exposure. Concentrations of Ca, Cd, Cu, Mg, Mn, Pb, Rb, and Zn were measured in soil, grass (Lolium perenne), and larvae of Pseudaletia uninpuncta captured in sites exposed and non-exposed to volcanic activity. The midgut epithelial cell morphometry and apoptosis of P. unipuncta larvae were also analyzed. Larvae from the site with volcanic activity showed higher levels of Cu, Mn, Rb and Zn. Metals such as Pb, Cd and Mg levels of P. unipuncta larvae were similar between sites. Apoptosis was higher in cells from digestive epithelium of larvae exposed to volcanic activity. Soils and grass not exposed to volcanic activity showed higher levels for most of the analyzed elements with the exception of Rb. Such result when compared with metal levels of larvae may reveal that bioavailability of elements differs between sites. The higher levels of Cd, Zn and Mg in soils and grass from the site with no volcanic activity are probably related to the severe artificial fertilization in the studied pastures. Such result, when compared with metal levels of larvae, suggest that the bioavailability of metals differs between sites. IntroductionIn São Miguel Island (Azores, Portugal) volcanic activity is manifested, among other ways, by the occurrence of hydrothermal vents, and soil degassing (Cruz, 2003;Ferreira et al., 2005). Consequently, organisms living in such environment may be continually exposed to metals, either as particles or associated with gases (Hansell et al., 2006). The association between changes in the digestive epithelium and the occurrence of apoptosis under chronic metal and metalloid exposure, originated by volcanic activity, has been previously found in terrestrial (e.g., earthworms, and snails) and marine invertebrates (e.g., limpets) (Amaral and Rodrigues, 2005;Zaldibar et al., 2006;Cunha et al., 2008). Thus, it is important to look for organisms that can be used as biological indicators or sentinels for the presence of those pollutants under such conditions, and in which one can rapidly measure several biomarkers of exposure and/or effects. The relationship between the accumulation of metals and their biomagnification in edible plants, insects, such as Lepidoptera larvae, and higher consumers, such as predators, has been shown in recent studies (Vickerman and Trumble, 2003;Dauwe et al., 2004;Mulder and Breure, 2006). Such studies indicate the important role of insects as links in metal transport

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 75%

Bioavailability of heavy metals and their effects on the midgut cells of a phytopaghous insect inhabiting volcanic environments

Rodrigues¹,

Cunha²,

Amaral³

et al. 2008

Science of The Total Environment

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“…The currently observed morphological alterations were strongly and negatively correlated to the BSD extent, and may be interpreted as an adaptation of the earthworms to the accumulation of bioavailable metals, meaning perhaps that high levels of metals may cause depletion of both tissues. Analogous adaptations in the digestive epithelium thickness of mollusks have been previously reported as an effect of changes in environmental quality as increased bioavailability of pollutants (Lowe et al 1981;Vega et al 1989;Marigo´mez et al 1990Marigo´mez et al , 1991Marigo´mez et al , 1992Cajaraville et al 1992). Marigo´mez et al (1996Marigo´mez et al ( , 1997 also found a clear evidence of severe adaptative changes in the digestive gland of mollusks following long-term/ chronic exposure to pollutants.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Metal accumulation and apoptosis in the alimentary canal of Lumbricus terrestris as a metal biomarker

Amaral

Rodrigues

2005

Biometals

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The chloragogenous tissue and the intestinal epithelium of adult earthworms, Lumbricus terrestris, sampled from sites with and without volcanic activity in the Azores were submitted to hematoxylin/eosin staining, autometallography and TUNEL-test in order to quantify the radial thickness of both tissues, their relative abundance of metals and apoptosis levels. Metals were visualized, through light microscopy, as black silver deposits (BSD) mostly in the chloragogenous tissue. The lowest radial thickness values of both tissues were found in the active volcanic sites, as well as the highest BSD and apoptosis levels. The BSD extent in the chloragogenous tissue, semi-quantified by stereology, exhibited a positive correlation with the apoptosis levels and a negative one with the radial thickness of both tissues. Thus, the variation of the radial thickness of both tissues, but especially of the chloragogenous tissue, which could reflect different cellular turnover rates caused by exposure to metals, is suggested as a biomarker of effect for metal exposure in terrestrial worms inhabiting volcanic environments.

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“…Such structural changes can be assessed morphometrically, a technique that is sufficiently sensitive to detect epithelial thinning due to environmental stress in the digestive epithelia and reproductive tissues of several invertebrates (Vega et al, 1989;Marigomez et al, 1998;Siekierska and Urbanska-Jasik, 2002). Morphological alterations are not uncommon among organisms exposed to extreme environments.…”

Section: Morphometry and Cell Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphometry of the epidermis of an invasive megascoelecid earthworm (Amynthas gracilis, Kinberg 1867) inhabiting actively volcanic soils in the Azores archipelago

Cunha¹,

Campos²,

Montiel³

et al. 2011

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

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a b s t r a c tFor the first time, the structure, dimensions, and composition of the epidermis of an invasive earthworm species that has successfully colonized hostile conditions in actively volcanic soil on São Miguel (Azores) have been measured. Metal concentrations in actively volcanic (Furnas) and volcanically inactive (Fajã) soils were similar; however, Furnas soil was characterised by elevated temperature (10 1C differential), relative hypoxia, extremely high CO 2 tension, and accompanying acidity. The epidermis of earthworm's resident at Fajã was approximately twice the thickness of the epidermis of conspecifics resident in Furnas soil. Reference worms transferred to Furnas soil for 14 days experienced an epidermal thinning of approximately 51%. In comparison, when Furnas earthworms were transferred to mesocosms at the relatively benign Fajã site, their epidermal thickness increased by approximately 21% over 14 days. Earthworms resident in Furnas soil had higher goblet cell counts than the residents of volcanically inactive soil on a neighbouring island (S. Maria). Transferring worms from S. Maria to mesocosms at Furnas induced a significant increase in goblet cell counts. Clearly, the active volcanic environment at Furnas poses a multifactorial stress challenge to the epigeic A. gracilis colonizer.

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Quantitative alterations in the structure of the digestive cell of Littorina littorea on exposure to cadmium

Cited by 56 publications

References 28 publications

Bioavailability of heavy metals and their effects on the midgut cells of a phytopaghous insect inhabiting volcanic environments

Bioavailability of heavy metals and their effects on the midgut cells of a phytopaghous insect inhabiting volcanic environments

Metal accumulation and apoptosis in the alimentary canal of Lumbricus terrestris as a metal biomarker

Morphometry of the epidermis of an invasive megascoelecid earthworm (Amynthas gracilis, Kinberg 1867) inhabiting actively volcanic soils in the Azores archipelago

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