Effects of in vivo exposure of Mya arenaria to organic and inorganic mercury on phagocytic activity of hemocytes

• Published in: Toxicology (Amsterdam) Vol. 161; no. 3; pp. 201 - 211
• Main Authors: Fournier, M., Pellerin, J., Clermont, Y., Morin, Y., Brousseau, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 28-03-2001; Amsterdam Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Bivalve; Bivalvia - drug effects; Bivalvia - immunology; Bivalvia - metabolism; Body Burden; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Environment; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Flow cytometry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heavy metals; Hemocyte; Hemocytes - drug effects; Hemocytes - immunology; Hemocytes - metabolism; Lipid Metabolism; Mercuric Chloride - pharmacokinetics; Mercuric Chloride - toxicity; Methylmercury Compounds - pharmacokinetics; Methylmercury Compounds - toxicity; Mya arenaria; Phagocytosis; Phagocytosis - drug effects; Proteins - metabolism; Flow cytometry; Environment; Hemocyte; Bivalve; Phagocytosis; Heavy metals; Benthic organism; Toxicity; Mercury chloride; Heavy metal; Marine environment; Pollutant; Bivalvia; Mya arenaria; Invertebrata; Mollusca; Biological accumulation
• ISSN: 0300-483X; 1879-3185
• DOI: 10.1016/S0300-483X(00)00387-5

Marine bivalves are aquatic invertebrate organisms which can be used as bioindicators in environmental monitoring. In vivo effects of mercuric chloride (HgCl
2) and methylmercury (CH
3HgCl) on phagocytic function of
Mya arenaria hemocytes were evaluated in this study. Clams were exposed to single metal in water for up to 28 days at concentrations ranging from 10
−9 to 10
−5 M. Phagocytic activity of hemocytes was determined by uptake of fluorescent microspheres and flow cytometry. All clams exposed to 10
−5 M HgCl
2 died by day 7 of exposure. The viability of hemocytes was decreased only in clams exposed to 10
−6 M HgCl
2 for 28 days. A significant decrease in phagocytic activity of hemocytes was observed in clams exposed to 10
−6 M of HgCl
2 for 28 days. A similar pattern was observed with CH
3HgCl, but at an earlier time. Chemical analysis performed on the tissues of the animals clearly show a greater uptake of the organic form of mercury by clams. Furthermore, a clear correlation was established between body burden of mercury and effects on phagocytic activity of hemocytes. Overall, the results of this study show that both speciations of mercury inhibited phagocytic function of
Mya
arenaria hemocytes following in vivo exposures.