title: Assessment of growth, genotoxic responses and expression of stress related genes in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas following chronic exposure to ionizing radiation.
abstract: Marine organisms are exposed to low doses of anthropogenic contaminants during their entire life. Authorized amounts of radionuclides are discharged in the Channel by nuclear facilities. The Pacific oyster was used to investigate the potential impact of chronic exposure to ionizing radiation. Though we exposed larvae and spat for two weeks to much higher concentrations than those encountered near nuclear facilities, oyster growth and expression of 9 selected stress genes were not significantly changed. To determine potential DNA damage, 2year old oysters were exposed for two weeks to tritiated water. The comet assay was used to evaluate the level of DNA strand breaks in haemocytes, whilst the 'clearance rate' was used as a measure of physiological effects. Whilst other parameters did not alter, DNA damage significantly increased. Our results highlight the significance of the observed DNA damage and their potential consequences at higher levels of biological organization.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PRP-ENV/SERIS/Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg-Octeville, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP 10, 50130 Cherbourg Octeville, France.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Devos
authors.affiliation: University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lorna J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Dallas
authors.affiliation: Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PRP-ENV/SERIS/Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg-Octeville, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP 10, 50130 Cherbourg Octeville, France.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Voiseux
authors.affiliation: Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PRP-ENV/SERIS/Laboratoire d'ECOtoxicologie des radionucléides, BP 3, 13115 Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lecomte-Pradines
authors.affiliation: University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Awadhesh N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Jha
authors.affiliation: Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PRP-ENV/SERIS/Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg-Octeville, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP 10, 50130 Cherbourg Octeville, France. Electronic address: bruno.fievet@irsn.fr.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fiévet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020552:Comet Assay; D049896:Crassostrea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004249:DNA Damage; D015870:Gene Expression; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D036401:Toxicity Tests, Chronic; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive
keywords: Crassostrea gigas; DNA damage; Gene expression; Growth; Ionizing radiation; Juveniles