title: Effect of in vitro exposure to zinc on immunological parameters of haemocytes from the marine gastropod Haliotis tuberculata.
abstract: Environmental pollutants such as heavy metals exert immunotoxic effects on aquatic organisms. The immune defence of molluscs is comprised of cell-mediated and humoral mechanisms, in which haemocytes play a key role. In this study, a model based on primary cultured haemocytes from the gastropod mollusc Haliotis tuberculata was established to investigate the effects of zinc in vitro. Cells were exposed for 24 h to ZnCl(2) concentrations of 0, 10, 100 or 1000 microM. The effects of zinc on haemocyte parameters were investigated using morphological, spectrophotometric and flow cytometry analysis. Immunotoxicity was reflected by a significant decrease in the number of viable haemocytes (LC(50)(24 h) = 314 microM). Moreover, the cell area was dramatically reduced, and the percentage of rounded cells increased with increasing zinc concentrations. Exposure to 1000 muM zinc induced a significant reduction in acid phosphatase activity, phagocytic activity and reactive oxygen species production in haemocytes. However, several haemocyte parameters increased significantly after 24 h of zinc exposure. In response to a 1000 microM exposure, the phenoloxidase level was 26-fold higher than that of the control, and non-specific esterase activity was increased by 69% above that of the control. These results suggest a relationship between zinc exposure and alterations in the functional responses of haemocytes from H. tuberculata.
authors.affiliation: UMR 100 IFREMER Physiologie et Ecophysiologie des Mollusques Marins, IFR 146 ICORE - IBFA, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Campus 1, Science C, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032 Caen cedex, France.
authors.forename: Elmina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mottin
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caplat
authors.forename: Marie-Laure
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mahaut
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Costil
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barillier
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lebel
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serpentini
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004950:Esterases / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005602:France; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000276:immunology*; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D018448:Models, Immunological; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D015032:Zinc / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D004950:Esterases; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D015032:Zinc