L. Giamberini et Jc. Pihan, LYSOSOMAL CHANGES IN THE HEMOCYTES OF THE FRESH-WATER MUSSEL DREISSENA-POLYMORPHA EXPERIMENTALLY EXPOSED TO LEAD AND ZINC, Diseases of aquatic organisms, 28(3), 1997, pp. 221-227
This study examines the structural changes of the lysosomal system of
the hemocytes of the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha experimentally
exposed to lead and zinc. A cytochemical technique which demonstrated
acid phosphatase activity as a lysosomal marker was used on blood cell
monolayers. The results indicate that the effects of both metals on h
emocytic lysosomes were variable and that no marked linear relationshi
p between lysosomal changes and metal concentration and exposure time
was observed. Hemocytes of exposed zebra mussels exhibited enlarged an
d/or more numerous lysosomes. The use of the lysosomal changes in the
hemocytes as a biomarker of contaminant exposure is discussed.