title: Evaluation of phagocytic activity and nitric oxide generation by molluscan haemocytes as biomarkers of inorganic arsenic exposure.
abstract: The natural habitats of the freshwater bivalve Lamellidens marginalis face the risk of contamination by the toxic metalloid arsenic. Haemocyte-mediated non-self phagocytosis and generation of nitric oxide (NO) as reactive nitrogen intermediate were examined to establish the reliability of the parameters as biomarkers of sodium arsenite-induced stress on the animal at sublethal concentrations. The studies suggest imposition of a remarkable immune compromise/immune suppression on the animal by the natural contaminant. The animal expressed partial recovery in its phagocytic potential and NO generation over a period of 30 days. Quantitation of phagocytic efficiency and intrahaemocyte NO generation indicates the possibility of the parameters be accepted as cellular biomarkers to estimate and characterize the vulnerability of the freshwater organisms to sodium arsenite-induced stress.
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Parasitology and Medical Entomology Laboratory, Darjeeling Government College, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Sudipta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: Mitali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Sajal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018053:Arsenites / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D017670:Sodium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D049876:Unionidae
chemical_list: D018053:Arsenites; D015415:Biomarkers; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C017947:sodium arsenite