CELLULAR EFFECTS OF TRIBUTYLTIN (TBT) ON THE PENIS EPITHELIUM-CELLS OF PROSOBRANCHS (HINIA-RETICULATA AND OCINEBRINA-ACICULATA)

Cytopathological effects on organelles of penis epithelium cells were investigated in prosobranchs that had been exposed for two weeks to th ree months to high TBT-concentrations in artificial seawater. TBT expo sure damaged cell organelles, such as mitochondrial Golgi dictyosomes, endoplasmatic reticulum, and injured the cell membranes. In addition, atypical intercellular spaces were observed between the cells of the epithelial layer. Further cell alterations included the increase of re sidual bodies within the cells as well as structural changes of the ba sal lamina. The ultrastructural changes were compared with cell altera tions of specimens which had been collected in a polluted environment on the coast of Brittany (France).