Ultrastructural response of the intestine in the Teleost Brachydanio rerioexposed to a sublethal concentration of platinum

The kinetic of bioaccumulation and depuration as well as die ultrastructura l perturbations induced in the anterior intestine of Brachydanio rerio by 1 6 mu g.l(-1) of platinum were reported. Enterocytic responses were rapid an d reversible, adaptative (reduction in the length of the apical microvilli, increase in the number of cellular structures known to concentrate metals: secondary lysosomes, intra-mitochondrial granules) and degenerative (alter ation of the plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, dictyoso mes). The aim of the present work was to characterize intestinal responses to platinum exposure which could be used, in fine, as biomarkers of contami nation.