Recent declines in Chesapeake Bay oyster populations have been attributed t
o disease, and reduced water quality from pollution. The stress associated
with pollutant exposure may reduce energy available for growth and reproduc
tion. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are lipophilic contaminants that may
potentially affect mobilization of lipid reserves, increasing reliance on
glycogen stores, which could otherwise be utilized to supply energy for gam
etogenesis. Thus, PCBs may indirectly affect glycogen stores in oysters in
a deleterious manner. To test for this effect, reproductively inactive oyst
ers were exposed to PCBs by feeding individuals 0.7 g of algal paste contai
ning 0, 0.35, or 3.5 mug PCBs daily for 8 weeks. Additionally, a group of o
ysters was exposed to PCBs (0, 0.35, and 3.5 mug) plus 0.3 g of non-toxic a
rtificial sediment to examine interactive effects of sediment particles and
PCBs. Adductor muscle, mantle, and gonadal tissues were analyzed for glyco
gen content. Results suggest that glycogen content is reduced in the adduct
or muscle with increasing PCB exposure, but there are no effects of PCBs in
the mantle and gonadal tissues. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.