Cellular but not humoral antibacterial activity of earthworms is inhibited by Aroclor 1254.
Earthworms, Eisenia fetida andrei and Lumbricus terrestris, exposed to Aroclor 1254, followed by infestation with Aeromonas hydrophila, elicited two types of responses. First, in E. fetida, there was no change in the LD50 nor in the in vitro antibacterial growth capacity of cell-free coelomic fluid. Thus, Aroclor exerts no influence on antibacterial proteins nor on the chloragogue cells responsible for their release. Second, in L. terrestris, both a high LD50 value and no antibacterial activity indicate that A. hydrophila was not pathogenic. The 10(4) times higher sensitivity of exposed L. terrestris suggests that Aroclor inhibits leukocyte activity since E. fetida eliminates nonpathogenic bacteria by a cellular mechanism.
Roch
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Département de Physiologie des Invertébrés et URA CNRS 1138, Université de Bordeaux 1, Talence, France.
Cooper
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EL
D016980:Aeromonas hydrophila / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001140:Aroclors / Q000633:toxicity*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine); D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
D001140:Aroclors; D002273:Carcinogens; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine); D012313:RNA