Organotin compounds (OTCs) have been widely used as biocides in antifouling paint and insecticide formulation. In aquatic ecosystems, OTCs show high persistence and consequently they can be accumulated by living organisms, especially by filter-feeding animals, such as bivalve molluscs. In the recent years, physiological and biochemical responses of bivalves have been proposed as biomarkers in assessing toxicity of various contaminants, as well as in biomonitoring marine coastal ecosystems. In our study, the effects of TBT on functional responses of haemocytes in the clam Tapes philippinarum, widespread and commercially relevant in the lagoon of Venice, were investigated in order to set up quick and reproducible in vitro bioassays for the study of TBT toxicity. Haemocytes were exposed for 60 min at 25°C to sublethal concentrations of TBT (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 µM) and the effects on Neutral Red uptake, superoxide dismutase and lysozyme activities were evaluated. Exposure of cells to 0.05 µM TBT caused significant increase (p<0.05) in Neutral Red uptake (OD/mg protein), whereas no differences resulted after exposure to 0.01 and 0.1 µM TBT. Moreover, in 0.05 and 0.1 µM TBT-treated haemocytes SOD activity (U SOD/mg protein) exhibited a significant decrease (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). A significant decrease in lysozyme activity (µg lysozyme/mg protein) was observed in haemocytes exposed to 0.05 (p<0.01) and 0.1 µM TBT (p<0.001). These results show that in vitro exposure of the haemocytes of the clam T. philippinarum influences their functional responses. Proposed assays resulted sensitive, rapid and reproducible and could be used as biomarkers, even though their responsiveness will be more fully evaluated in haemocytes collected after clam exposure in laboratory and field conditions.

Effects of TBT exposure on functional responses of haemocytes in the clam Tapes philippinarum

MATOZZO, VALERIO;BALLARIN, LORIANO;MARIN, MARIA
2001

Abstract

Organotin compounds (OTCs) have been widely used as biocides in antifouling paint and insecticide formulation. In aquatic ecosystems, OTCs show high persistence and consequently they can be accumulated by living organisms, especially by filter-feeding animals, such as bivalve molluscs. In the recent years, physiological and biochemical responses of bivalves have been proposed as biomarkers in assessing toxicity of various contaminants, as well as in biomonitoring marine coastal ecosystems. In our study, the effects of TBT on functional responses of haemocytes in the clam Tapes philippinarum, widespread and commercially relevant in the lagoon of Venice, were investigated in order to set up quick and reproducible in vitro bioassays for the study of TBT toxicity. Haemocytes were exposed for 60 min at 25°C to sublethal concentrations of TBT (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 µM) and the effects on Neutral Red uptake, superoxide dismutase and lysozyme activities were evaluated. Exposure of cells to 0.05 µM TBT caused significant increase (p<0.05) in Neutral Red uptake (OD/mg protein), whereas no differences resulted after exposure to 0.01 and 0.1 µM TBT. Moreover, in 0.05 and 0.1 µM TBT-treated haemocytes SOD activity (U SOD/mg protein) exhibited a significant decrease (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). A significant decrease in lysozyme activity (µg lysozyme/mg protein) was observed in haemocytes exposed to 0.05 (p<0.01) and 0.1 µM TBT (p<0.001). These results show that in vitro exposure of the haemocytes of the clam T. philippinarum influences their functional responses. Proposed assays resulted sensitive, rapid and reproducible and could be used as biomarkers, even though their responsiveness will be more fully evaluated in haemocytes collected after clam exposure in laboratory and field conditions.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/2458311
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