title: The sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus immunological response to chemical pollution exposure: The case of lindane.
abstract: In the marine environment organochlorine insecticides can be broadly detected in water, sediments, and biota. These pollutants may have major ecological consequences since they may affect marine organisms and endanger organismal growth, reproduction or survival. In this study we investigated the modification of some sea urchin immunological parameters in response to subchronic lindane (γ-HCH) exposure. Adult specimens of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus were exposed to two different concentrations (0.1 and 0.5 mg L(-1)) of lindane. After 24 and 48h of treatment, we examined the lindane influence on coelomocytes vitality and enumeration as well on some humoral parameters. Our results showed that the presence of the pesticide affected both cellular and humoral components of the immune system. In particular, P. lividus coelomocytes vitality did not change but a decrease of the total cell number and an increase of the red cells was recorded. Haemolytic and lysozyme-like activities as well as antibacterial activity on Vibrio alginolyticus of treated animals decreased. Sea urchin immunological competence modifications might represent a tool for monitoring disease susceptibility thus providing biological criteria for the implementation of water quality standards to protect marine organisms.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, Via Roma 3, 74100 Taranto, Italy; Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Via Prov. Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy. Electronic address: loredana.stabili@iamc.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stabili
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Via Prov. Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pagliara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D002470:Cell Survival; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000032:analysis*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis*; D009113:Muramidase / Q000737:chemistry; D047328:Paracentrotus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D044149:Vibrio alginolyticus; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007306:Insecticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D009113:Muramidase
keywords: Antibacterial activity; Haemolytic activity; Invertebrate immunity; Lindane; Lysozyme-like activity; Sea urchin