The sister chromatid exchange test as an indicator of marine pollution:some factors affecting SCE frequencies in Mytilus galloprovincialis

Mussel gill cells are attractive models in ecotoxicological studies because gills are the first uptake site for many toxicants in the aquatic environment; gill cells are thus often affected by exposure to pollutants. Our aim was to characterize mussel gill cells in vivo and in vitro by using morphological, histochemical and functional end-points. In paraffin sections stained with haematoxylin-eosin, three zones were distinguished in the long central gill filaments: frontal, intermediate and abfrontal. Various types of ciliated cells were present in the frontal zone, and both ciliated and non-ciliated cells were found in the abfrontal zone. The intermediate zone was comprised of flattened endothelial cells. Lipofuscin granules occurred in the three zones in variable amounts, depending on the specimen. Haemocytes were found in the haemolymph sinus of gill filaments. Mucocytes were identified in both frontal and abfrontal zones by means of periodic acid Schiff-alcian blue (PAS-AB) staining. In cryostat sections, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity was mainly found in ciliated cells, whereas neutral lipids and acid-phosphatase-reactive lysosomes were present in all portions of the gill filament, mostly being related to lipofuscin granules. In mussels exposed to 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine in vivo, proliferating cells were scattered throughout the gill filament. Gill cells (typically 2x10(7) cells/ml per mussel; 95% viability) were isolated by dissociation with dispase. Gill cell suspensions were heterogeneous: 58% were ciliated epithelial cells (positive for SDH), 42% were non-ciliated cells (including epithelial cells and haemocytes), 2.3% were mucocytes (positive for PAS-AB) and 4.25% were haemocytes (able to phagocytose neutral red-stained zymosan). Gill cell cultures were maintained up to 18 days without changing the culture medium, viability decreasing below 50% at day 18. Primary cultures of mussel gill cells might therefore be useful models for the in vitro assessment of xenobiotic impacts on coastal and estuarine ecosystems.

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“…However, the small size and seasonal availability of these stages makes them unsuitable for routine monitoring (Pasantes et al 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of mussel gill cells in vivo and in vitro

et al. 2005

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“…The SCE technique and its applicability to mussels such as Mytilus galloprovincialis is described in detail by Martinez-Expositio et al (1994) and Pasantes et al (1996).…”

Section: Genetical Markersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chapter 17 Molluscs as bioindicators

Oehlmann¹,

Schulte‐Oehlmann²

2003

Trace Metals and Other Contaminants in the Environment

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The ecological role and importance of molluscs as one of the most species-rich phyla of the animal kingdom are briefly summarised with special emphasis on certain characteristics, which make them especially suited for monitoring programmes in the field. The advantages, perspectives and limitations for the use of terrestrial and aquatic molluscs for the monitoring of chemical stressors in their specific environment are compared. Furthermore, examples of bioaccumulation and biological effect monitoring surveys are given with a differentiation of sub-organism, organism and community level effects for the latter. Finally, the possibilities for monitoring of tributyltin compounds in coastal and freshwater ecosystem are demonstrated as a case study.

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Biomarkers in Invertebrates

Lagadic¹

1999

Biomarkers: A Pragmatic Basis for Remediation of Severe Pollution in Eastern Europe

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The sister chromatid exchange test as an indicator of marine pollution:some factors affecting SCE frequencies in Mytilus galloprovincialis

Cited by 7 publications

References 8 publications

Characterization of mussel gill cells in vivo and in vitro

Characterization of mussel gill cells in vivo and in vitro

Chapter 17 Molluscs as bioindicators

Biomarkers in Invertebrates

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