title: Abnormal features of Macoma balthica (Bivalvia) in the Baltic Sea: alerting symptoms of environmental adversity?
abstract: Recent studies of the Baltic clam Macoma balthica (L.) from the southern Baltic (the Gulf of Gdansk) have revealed striking morphological, histological and cytogenetic features. Strong deformation of the shell, including elongation of the posterior end and the appearance of an easily visible flexure in this part, has been recorded. The population contribution of the deformed blunt shelled ("irregular") clams ranged from 0% to 65% and tended to increase with depth. The morphologically "irregular" clams had higher accumulated tissue concentrations of trace metals (As, Ag, Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn), indicating a different metal handling ability. Adverse conditions in deeper water regions of the Gulf (e.g. hypoxia, hydrogen sulphide, elevated bioavailability of contaminants) have been suggested as inducers of the phenotypical changes (morphological deformation) in part of the population and, in parallel, of the specific physiological adaptations that result in higher metal accumulation in the "irregular" clams. Cytogenetic and histological analyses showed the presence of tumours in gill cells and digestive system of the affected clams, the prevalence of disseminated neoplasia ranging from 0% to 94% depending on the site. The disease was manifested by a modified karyotype (i.e. an abnormal number and morphology of chromosomes), a higher activity of nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs), and tissue lesions (enlarged cells, actively proliferative with pleomorphic nuclei). Bottom sediments showed acute toxicity and have been proposed as a source of an initialising carcinogenic factor. However, none of the ecotoxicological studies provided was successful in the clear demonstration of a single (or multifactorial) agent that can account for the disseminated neoplasia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Estuarine Ecology, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Al. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland. oceas@univ.gda.pl
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sokołowski
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wołowicz
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hummel
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smolarz-Górska
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fichet
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Radenac
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thiriot-Quiévreux
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Namieśnik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D001454:Baltic States; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000209:etiology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000473:pathology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005068:Eutrophication; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D005880:Gills / Q000002:abnormalities; D000075322:Heavy Metal Poisoning; D007621:Karyotyping; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants