title: Apoptosis, cell proliferation and serotonin immunoreactivity in gut of Liza aurata from natural heavy metal polluted environments: preliminary observations.
abstract: In the present paper, the effect of natural environment non-lethal heavy metal concentration on cell renewal of Liza aurata intestinal epithelium, was studied by the TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling) method and anti-PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) immunohistochemistry, in order to detect, respectively, apoptosis and cell proliferation. In addition, the presence and distribution of the cell renewal regulator, serotonin, was immunohistochemically investigated. In order to reduce variability, only immature specimens were considered. The results indicated that in the control specimens from non-polluted areas, the PCNA immunoreactive nuclei of the proximal intestinal epithelium were only located at the bottom of the intestinal folds, together with a few TUNEL-positive nuclei, and goblet mucous differentiated cells. In the specimens from polluted areas, the number of PCNA immunoreactive cells was greatly enhanced, and they extended along the mid portion of the intestinal folds; the number of TUNEL-positive nuclei was enhanced as well, but they were almost exclusively detected in the third apical portion of the intestinal folds. Serotonin immunoreactive nerve elements were more frequently detected in the intestinal wall of L. aurata specimens from polluted areas, and besides that, some serotonin immunoreactive endocrine cells were also present. Variations in distribution and frequency of TUNEL-positive nuclei, PCNA immunoreactive nuclei, and serotonin immunoreactivity put in evidence an alteration of cell renewal with an enhancement of cell proliferation, probably leading to morphological intestinal fold changes.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia Animale ed Ecologia Marina, Universitá di Messina, Italy. sara.ferrando@unige.it
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrando
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ferrando
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Girosi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mauceri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fasulo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tagliafierro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005399:Fishes; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000379:methods; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007558:Italy; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D012701:Serotonin