title: [Carotenoids and marine mollusk resistance to environmental pollution].
abstract: Studies have been made on the relationship between total carotenoid content of marine molluscs and their resistance to the decrease of oxygen and the increase of various toxic substances in sea water. It was found that molluscs with high carotenoid content exhibit high resistance to sea pollution. Their population increase in number, in contrast to species with low carotenoid concentration in the body which show a decrease in their population in the polluted environment. Molluscs of the same species, e. g. the common mussel, increase their carotenoid content when inhabiting a polluted region of the sea. Under experimental conditions, it was shown that 6--8 hours after exposure of mussels to pollution, their carotenoid content increases two fold. Close correlation between the resistance of marine molluscs to sea pollution and carotenoid content of their body favours the idea suggesting the role of carotenoids in oxidative metabolism of animal cells and in the adaptation of these cells to hypoxic conditions.
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D008974:Mollusca / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D014586:USSR; D014876:Water Pollution
chemical_list: D002338:Carotenoids
vernacular_title: Karotinoidy i ustoĭchivost' morskikh molliuskov k zagriazneniiu sredy