CONTAMINANT INDUCED LYSOSOMAL MEMBRANE DAMAGE IN MARINE MUSSEL DIGESTIVE CELLS - AN IN-VITRO STUDY

Damage to lysosomes in isolated molluscan digestive cells was measured in vitro, following prior experimental in vivo exposure of mussels to the model polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fluoranthene for 7 days. Da mage was assessed using the retention of the cationic diazine probe ne utral red in the lysosomal compartment as a determinant of effect. The results showed that probe retention time was significantly reduced (P < 0.001) in the lysosomes of cells isolated from exposed mussels as c ompared to those from mussels exposed to the solvent vehicle alone. Th ese findings indicate that the functional integrity of the lysosomal m embrane is impaired following hydrocarbon exposure and further illustr ates that lysosomes are the target of toxic action of pollutants. Corr oborative evidence for fluoranthene-induced cell injury was apparent f rom increased accumulation of lipid and lysosomal hydrolase activity i n tissue sections of digestive gland from the same experimental materi al.