title: Tissue-specific assimilation, depuration and toxicity of nickel in Mytilus edulis.
abstract: The tissue-specific accumulation and time-dependent depuration of radioactive (63)Ni by the byssus, gut, foot, gills, kidney, adductor muscle and faeces of Mytilus edulis has been investigated using a pulse-chase technique. The rate and extent of depuration of (63)Ni varied between tissues and, after 168 h, the concentration factors and assimilation efficiencies ranged from 1 to 35 L kg(-1) and 5%-13%, respectively. Mussels were also exposed to a range of environmentally-realistic concentrations of dissolved Ni, prior to the analysis of biological endpoints. The clearance rate was concentration-dependent and at the highest concentration decreased by 30%. Neutral red retention (NRR) assays indicated a cytotoxic response and DNA strand breaks were observed in the haemocytes. The association of DNA damage with that of physiological and cytotoxic effects suggests that Ni exerts a significant impact on Mytilus edulis at cellular and genetic levels.
authors.affiliation: Marine Institute, Portland Square, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom. gmillward@plymouth.ac.uk
authors.forename: Geoffrey E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Millward
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kadam
authors.forename: Awadhesh N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Jha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D049880:Mytilus edulis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D009532:Nickel