THE USE OF THE NEUTRAL RED RETENTION ASSAY TO EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY ON HEMOCYTES OF THE EUROPEAN FLAT OYSTER OSTREA-EDULIS (L)

The neutral red retention assay was adapted to assess the effects of a matrix of temperature and salinity combinations on haemocytes of the European flat oyster Ostrea edulis (L.). Oysters were collected from a commercially fished site in the western Solent and were acclimated to different temperature and salinity combinations in the laboratory. Th e results indicate that the haemocytes are most stable at high salinit y and intermediate temperature (28 parts per thousand/15 degrees C), F urthermore it is evident from the data that at low salinities the adap tive capacity of the cellular processes is reduced to such an extent t hat the haemocytes are unable to respond to favourable temperature reg imes. The use of neutral red as a probe to monitor cellular stability is discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.