Reversible alterations in epithelial cell turnover in digestive gland of winkles (Littorina littorea) exposed to cadmium and their implications for biomarker measurements

Zaldibar, Beñat; Cancio, Ibon; Marigómez, Ionan

doi:10.1016/j.aquatox.2006.12.007

Cited by 66 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…essentially the respiratory gas exchange surface) is similar in both morphotypes, but the branchial thickness, thus the diffusion distance, is lower in the 'short-fat' compared with the 'long-skinny' worms (Andersen et al, 2006;Hourdez and Lallier, 2007). Cytological alterations induced by heavy metal exposures have been observed in different types of epithelial tissues in several invertebrate taxa (Zaldibar et al, 2007;Cunha et al, 2008), and vertebrates (Pandey et al, 2008;Srivastava et al, 2009). However, the metal concentrations in the actively volcanic soil at Furnas are not particularly excessive, especially in comparison with those often encountered in mine-associated soils (Corp and Morgan, 1991), and lead to the conclusion that cations alone, even under the relatively acidic prevailing conditions, may not be the primary cause of the epidermal perturbations observed in the resident earthworms.…”

Section: Morphometry and Cell Compositionmentioning

confidence: 92%

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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Section: Morphometry and Cell Compositionmentioning

confidence: 92%

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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“…Change in cell-type composition is a general phenomenon that can take place in the digestive gland epithelia of stressed mollusks as underscored by Zaldibar et al (2008). A recent study (Zaldibar et al, 2007) demonstrated that exposure of winkles (Littorina littorea) to cadmium resulted in changes in the composition of the epithelia of the digestive gland (digestive ducts and tubules). These changes were characterized by a loss of digestive cells (minus 13.2%) and an increase of volume of both digestive and basophilic cells (plus 13.5% and 200%, respectively).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Alexandrium minutum exposure upon physiological and hematological variables of diploid and triploid oysters, Crassostrea gigas

et al. 2010

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minutum compared to control oysters. At the same time, many oysters exposed to the harmful microalgae presented a strong inflammatory response in different tissues of the digestive gland: in intestine as well as in digestive ducts and tubules. Spermatozoa in oysters exposed to A. minutum were morphologically and functionally modified compared to spermatozoa of control oysters. Indeed, spermatozoa were less motile and had lower ATP content in oysters exposed to A. minutum. Meanwhile, spermatozoa produced by control oysters showed higher 2 percentage of mortality and relative DNA content than those produced by A. minutum exposed oysters. Finally, the characteristics of the mitochondria of spermatozoa also appeared to be modified upon A. minutum exposure. The results of this study suggests that an exposure of oysters to A. minutum, reducing energy status and motility of spermatozoa associated to morphological changes at the cellular and sub-cellular levels, can have consequences on spermatozoa fertility and reproduction success.

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“…At least for H. pomatia, programmed cell death in the basophilic cells of the midgut gland has been interpreted as a sign of stress that increases with elevated Cd concentrations in the tissue up to a level beyond which the detoxification capacity of the protein is exceeded . Increasing rates of cell proliferation within the digestive gland upon exposure to contaminants have also been observed in other gastropod species (Zaldibar et al 2007a, b) and seem to be related to changes in cell type composition and cell renewal in the gastropod midgut gland (Zaldibar et al 2008). Several studies suggest that, upon metal pollution or contaminant exposure, digestive cell numbers in the midgut gland of pulmonate snails decrease (Marigomez et al 1996;Zaldibar et al 2007a, b), whereas excretory cell numbers increase (Marigomez et al 1996;Zaldibar et al 2007b).…”

Section: Protective Effect Of Cd-mt Expressionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…A commonly observed adaptive phenomenon at the cellular level in metal-stressed tissues of molluscs (not only terrestrial species) is the induction of processes aimed at increasing their cell turnover. In particular, this has been observed in the digestive tissues of marine mussels and terrestrial gastropods, tissues in which most of the absorbed metals are accumulated (Zaldibar et al 2007a, b). These cellular alterations can assume characteristic patterns and have been proposed and applied as biomarkers in environmental monitoring Zaldibar et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Cadmium stress stimulates tissue turnover in Helix pomatia: increasing cell proliferation from metal tolerance to exhaustion in molluscan midgut gland

et al. 2010

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In terrestrial pulmonate snails, cadmium (Cd) uptake leads to the induction of a Cd-specific metallothionein isoform (Cd-MT) that protects against adverse interactions of this toxic metal ion. Increasing concentrations of Cd cause increased individual mortality possibly linked to pathological alterations in the snail midgut gland. Histological, immuno-histochemical, and electron-microscopic methods in combination with tissue metal analyses and quantification of MT induction parameters were applied to the midgut gland of Cd-exposed Roman snails (Helix pomatia). Conspicuous concentration-dependent alterations occurred in this organ, including the metal-induced increase of Cd-MT concentration and manifestation of Cd-MT mRNA precipitations in all midgut gland cell types. The most evident alteration was an increase of cellular turnover reflected by enhanced cell proliferation. Intensified vesiculation of endoplasmic reticulum was noted in basophilic cells and an increasing formation of lipofuscin granules in excretory cells. At the highest Cd concentrations, mitochondrial membranes were disrupted in basophilic cells, and lipofuscin granules were released from excretory cells into the midgut gland tubular system. Some of these alterations (e.g., increased cell proliferation rate, vesiculation of endoplasmic reticulum) detected at low Cd concentrations were interpreted as adaptive response processes enhancing the tolerance of exposed individuals to metal stress. Cellular alterations at higher Cd concentrations (e.g., mitochondrial structural damage) clearly represented ongoing irreversible cellular disruption. Combined evaluation of cellular biomarkers and MT saturation levels indicated that the transition from stress resistance to depletion of resistance capacity occurred above a threshold of 0.8 micromol Cd/g dry weight in the midgut gland of H. pomatia. At these Cd concentrations, Cd-MT was saturated with Cd(2+) ions, whereas at the cellular level, structural alterations turned into pathological deterioration.

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Reversible alterations in epithelial cell turnover in digestive gland of winkles (Littorina littorea) exposed to cadmium and their implications for biomarker measurements

Cited by 66 publications

References 55 publications

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

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

Effects of Alexandrium minutum exposure upon physiological and hematological variables of diploid and triploid oysters, Crassostrea gigas

Cadmium stress stimulates tissue turnover in Helix pomatia: increasing cell proliferation from metal tolerance to exhaustion in molluscan midgut gland

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