NUOVE METODICHE PER EVIDENZIARE L’EFFETTO DI INQUINANTI AMBIENTALI STANNORGANICI IN ADULTI ED EMBRIONI DI TUNICATI LAGUNARI.

In order to assess the impact of organotin compounds (OTC) in the Lagoon environment, new biological approaches have been set up to study the interaction between OTC and marine organisms. Two ascidian species have been selected as filter-feeding invertebrates playing the role of bioindicators in marine pollution monitoring. A method of in vitro evaluation of yeast phagocytosis by hemocytes is proposed to investigate the immunotoxic effects. A method of in vitro exposure of staged embryos is used to detect the embryotoxic effects. Results suggest that these pollutants provoke inhibitory effects in both the immune response and embryonic development in a dose- and time-dependent manner directly related to their liposolubility, influence the cell calcium homeostasis and inhibit the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. These methods may be useful in a biomonitoring plan aimed at studying the effects of OTC in aquatic systems such as the Lagoon of Venice.