Evaluation of acetylcholinesterase activity in several zooplanktonic crustaceans

Zooplankton are an essential component of the marine and estuarine food chains. The ecotoxicological risk to zooplanktonic communities, estimated through the use of the biomarkers, can be used as an early warning signal of a potential alteration of the ecosystem health. The aim of this project was to evaluate the potential use of several biomarkers (esterases, mixed function oxidases, porphyrins) in zooplanktonic organisms. The acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) was determined in homogenates of whole organisms of 10 different zooplanktonic crustaceans. Mean activity of AChE was 10.05 micromol/min/g for Acartia margalefi; 3.30 for Acartia latisetosa; 79.70 for Siriella clausi; 49.97 for Diamysis bahirensis; 7.48 for Siriella armata; 14.20 for Mysidopsis gibbosa; 4.49 for Euphausia crystallorophias; 1.66 for Euphausia superba; 2.74 for Streetsia challengeri; 13.26 for Meganycthiphanes norvegica. The species moreover showed a linear increase in enzyme activity in relation to the increase in sample concentration. The key result of this study concerns the different AChE activity basal values of the crustaceans' different species.     

Esterases as biomarkers in Nereis (Hediste) diversicolor exposed to temephos and Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis used for mosquito control in coastal wetlands of Morbihan (Brittany,France)

Since 1998, a biomonitoring programme has been implemented to assess the potential impact of chemical mosquito control on macroinvertebrates of the coastal wetlands of Morbihan (Brittany, France). Acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterases were used as biomarkers to assess the effects of Abate 500e (a.i. temephos) and Vectobac 12 AS (a.i. endotoxins of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, Bti) in Nereis (Hediste) diversicolor. Esterase inhibition revealed a marked impact of temephos, suggesting preferential contamination of the worms through the food. In Bti-exposed N. diversicolor, random variations of esterase activities were observed, that could not be attributed to the larvicide. However, esterases only reflected indirect physiological effects of Bti, and further investigations are needed to identify biomarkers more specific of Bti endotoxins.     

胶州湾贻贝苗源的发展

贻贝(Mytilus edulis L.)是一种冷水性双壳类软体动物，它在我国沿岸分布的南限是胶州湾，但仅见于港内码头及船底上，且数量不多。 1958年青岛市水产局、原青岛市海水养殖场和中国科学院海洋研究所等单位曾一起自大连和烟台移贻贝苗至青岛试养，次年养殖架上也曾有少量幼苗附着，但未能大量繁殖起来。1971年后胶南县海水养殖试验场及青岛市第二海水养殖场等先后进行数十亩乃至数百亩移苗养殖，附苗量虽有所增长，但直至1974年仍缺乏生产意义。这种情况引起我们的思考:胶州湾贻贝苗源能否大量发展？它的限制因素是什么？ 1972年至1973年，我们与烟台地区海水养殖试验场等单位曾对烟台沿岸贻贝苗源进行调查研究，确认当时烟台苗种产量不高的主要原因是附着基不足，其次是亲贝不足，据此试验成功了“废旧草绠采苗法”。之后，随着采苗器材的增加及养殖面积的不断扩大，烟台芝罘湾已发展成为一个较好的苗场，通常可供万亩以上生产用苗。这个经验对我们开发胶州湾的苗源很有启发。 1975年胶南县在胶州湾大力推广“废旧草绠采苗法”，收割海带后保留废旧海带架两万台采贻贝苗， 1976年进一步扩大贻贝养殖面积，继续留绠采苗。我们在青岛市水产局及胶南县水产局等单位的协助下，于1975年9月及1976年8-9月，对胶州湾内及湾口(青岛前海)留绠采苗的情况进行了调查，这些调查资料即为本文的主要依据。     

Measurement of DNA single-strand breaks in gill and hemolymph cells of mussels, Mytilus sp., collected on the French Atlantic Coast

DNA single-strand breaks were measured by the comet assay in both gill and hemolymph cells of mussels collected in 3 sampling areas of the French coast (Pointe du Castelli, Pen Bron and Saint-Nazaire Harbour). Whole mussel tissue samples were also collected for the chemical determination of PAH, PCB and heavy metal concentrations. In mussel, a higher level of DNA strand breaks was measured in gill than in hemolymph cells (p < 0.01). Despite a factor of contamination from 2 to 3 between sites, no difference in the extent of mussel DNA strand breaks was shown between sampling locations (p > 0.05), questioning the sensitivity of the assays used in biomonitoring studies.     

Susceptibility to genetic damage and cell types in Mediterranean mussels

Micronucleus (MN) frequency is generally accepted as a marker of chromosomal damage and has been studied in a variety of cells and species. In previous work, we detected significant dose-related MN increases in the epithelial-like gill cells and agranular haemocytes of Mytilus galloprovincialis treated with benzo[a]pyrene, a well-known mutagenic pollutant. In addition, we have studied micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities in mussels collected from the Venice lagoon (Italy). Frequency changes, possibly related to genotoxic/toxic stress, in both granular and micronucleated cells from gills and haemolymph, were detected. Environmental data suggest the effect of genotoxic pollutants and the importance of cell replication in the interpretation of micronucleus frequencies.     

北黄试验海区的声速垂直结构模式与声线图

从数理统计方法出发，对北黄试验海区收集来的从１９４９－１８７年的水文观测资料，按月按层地进行统计，并换算成声速，且绘制出逐月的声速垂直结构模式图，再依据射线理论，绘制分析了逐月的声线传播模式图，在为试验海区从事海上噪声和各类水声测试研究工作提供最蓁的海洋环境参数。     

大西洋扇贝贝壳生长年轮的氧同位素研究

两只活的大洋扇贝Placopecten magellanicus分别于1983和1985年采自加拿大诺瓦·斯科舍省布朗斯浅滩,其氧同位素记录展示出一种年度性的循环,并与由环境海水的实测温度和同位素组成所预计的贝壳同位素组成十分接近。外生长线的位置与这些循环中δ~(18)O的最大值吻合,这说明外生长线于底层海水温度最低时(春季)形成。据测定的δ~(18)O的结果证明,外生长线是年度性形成的,这与生物学证据一致。     

Bacterial killing by Mytilus hemocyte monolayers as a model for investigating the signaling pathways involved in mussel immune defence

The signaling pathways involved in mussel immune defence were investigated utilizing a model of killing of Escherichia coli by Mytilus galloprovincialis hemocytes in a co-culture setting. In particular, the role played by different mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and by the production of eicosanoids were investigated utilising specific cell permeant, pharmacological enzyme inhibitors. Hemocyte pretreatment with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 significantly reduced bacterial killing, whereas PD98059 (an inhibitor of ERK--extracellularly regulated kinase--MAPK activation) had no significant effect. Wortmannin also inhibited bacterial killing, indicating a crucial role for PI3-kinase activation in the immune response. Killing of E. coli was also reduced by inhibitors of both PLA2 and cyclooxygenase activities, indicating that eicosanoid production is involved in mediating the response to bacterial challenge. The results demonstrate that bacterial killing by mussel hemocytes is particularly sensitive to inhibitors of the key steps involved in the transduction of bacterial signals into the host cell. Moreover, these data indicate that the hemocyte bactericidal activity can be suitably utilized not only for identifying the signaling pathways involved in the response to bacterial infection, but also as a potential investigative-toxicology model to test drugs and contaminants for their effect on the overall mussel immune defence.     

Underwater Acoustic Image Transmission System Based on DSP

The underwater acoustic image transmission system based on the high-speed DSP device TMS320C549 has been studied.We use Goertzel algorithm for source decoding and MFSK for modulation.Turbo code is used for channel coding and decoding.The purpose is to implement underwater video image data transmission.