L. Nonnotte et al., WATERBORNE COPPER CAUSES GILL DAMAGE AND HEMOLYMPH HYPOXIA IN THE SHORE CRAB CARCINUS-MAENAS, Canadian journal of zoology, 71(8), 1993, pp. 1569-1576
The ultrastructure of gill lamellae was studied in shore crabs, Carcin
us maenas, exposed to sublethal (0.5 mg . L-1) and lethal (2 mg . L-1)
concentrations of waterborne copper for various durations. Oxygen ten
sion, pH, and lactate concentration in arterial blood were determined
in parallel studies. Extensive structural alterations involving cellul
ar hyperplasia, vacuolization, and necrosis were found after 5-6 days
of exposure to both sublethal and lethal copper levels. This led to co
nsiderable thickening of the gill epithelium and reduction of haemolym
ph spaces, resulting in restriction of respiratory gas exchange as sho
wn by a marked hypoxemia. Ensuing lactacidemia suggests that tissue hy
poxia was probably the major effect of the toxicant at lethal levels.
In sublethal conditions, partial repair of gill tissue and recovery of
normal blood oxygenation and pH were observed after 18 days of exposu
re.