INDUCTION OF MULTIXENOBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN MUSSEL BLOOD-CELLS

Mussel blood cells can easily be removed from live animals without kil ling them. These cells express an MDR-like protein and have shown rhod amine B exclusion activity when single cell fluorescence measurements using computerized confocal laser microscope were performed. Treatment s of mussels with up to 10 mu g/ml vincristine enhanced the ability of the treated blood cells to lower their intracellular concentration of rhodamine B and increased the expression of the protein detected by t he C219 monoclonal antibody. These responses are dose-dependant and st able for a period of over 14 clays. The MXR phenotope could thus be va luable as a biomarker of exposure. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd