Induction of apoptosis in the blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis by tri-n-butyltin chloride.
Induction of apoptosis by tri-n-butyltin (TBT) in gill tissue of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis was investigated. The terminal dUTP nick-end labeling technique (TUNEL) was used to detect cells displaying DNA fragmentation within gill structures. Genomic DNA fragmentation was detected as characteristically ladder-like pattern of DNA fragments induced by single injection of different doses of TBT (1-5 microg/g) below the mantle, directly into the pallial fluid, after 24 h of incubation. DNA degradation of higher order DNA structure, as well as reduced G(0)/G(1) cell cycle region (the sub-G(1) region) was detectable after 1.5 h of TBT incubation. Presence of apoptotic cells in mussels' gills was indicated by the selective loss of G(2)/M cells concomitant with the appearance of cells with decreased DNA content in S and G(0)/G(1) cell cycle regions. The effect of the TBT on cell cycle in a mussel gill was a dose related and exposure time depending. The possible mechanism of induction of apoptosis in vivo in gill tissue of mussel treated with TBT is discussed.
Micić
M
M
Center for Marine Research Rovinj, Rudjer Bosković Institute, G. Paliage 5, 52210 Rovinj, Croatia. micic@cim.irb.hr
Bihari
N
N
Labura
Z
Z
Müller
W E
WE
Batel
R
R
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005880:Gills / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C011559:tributyltin