Physiological responses of Mytilus edulis during chronic oil exposure and recovery

Physiological responses of mussels Mytilus edulis were determined following 8 months' exposure to two oil concentrations (28 and 125 μg litre⁻¹ total hydrocarbons) and during the process of recovery. There was a significant inverse relationship between the performance of Mytilus edulis, measured in terms of scope for growth, and the concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons accumulated in the body tissues. The marked reduction in scope for growth of oil exposed mussels was primarily due to a reduction in feeding rate and food absorption efficiency. Recovery of physiological responses was coupled to the depuration of aromatic hydrocarbons from the body tissues. Mussels exposed to high-oil concentrations were found to recover more rapidly than those exposed to low-oil concentrations, both in terms of depuration and scope for growth, and there was evidence of ‘catch-up’ growth. Recovery of mussels from both oil conditions was complete after approximately 55 days.     

The Interactive Effects of Elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and Ammonium Enrichment on the Physiological Performances of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharina japonica</Emphasis> (Laminariales,Phaeophyta)

Environmental challenges such as ocean acidification and eutrophication influence the physiology of kelp species. We investigated their interactive effects on Saccharina japonica (Laminariales, Phaeophyta) under two pH conditions [Low, 7.50; High (control), 8.10] and three NH ₄ ⁺ concentrations (Low, 4; Medium, 60; High, 120 μM). The degree of variation of pH values in the culture medium and inhibition rate of photosynthetic oxygen evolution by acetazolamide were affected by pH treatments. Relative growth rates, carbon, nitrogen, and the C:N ratio in tissue samples were influenced by higher concentrations of NH ₄ ⁺ . Rates of photosynthetic oxygen evolution were enhanced under elevated CO₂ or NH ₄ ⁺ conditions, independently, but these two factors did not show an interactive effect. However, rates of NH ₄ ⁺ uptake were influenced by the interactive effect of increased CO₂ under elevated NH ₄ ⁺ treatment. Although ocean acidification and eutrophication states had an impact on physiological performance, chlorophyll fluorescence was not affected by those conditions. Our results indicated that the physiological reactions by this alga were influenced to some extent by a rise in the levels of CO₂ and NH ₄ ⁺ . Therefore, we expect that the biomass accumulation of S. japonica may well increase under future scenarios of ocean acidification and eutrophication.     

Growth and primary productivity of marine macrophytes exposed to domestic sewage effluents

This study provides the first response data for ten Southern California macrophytes exposed to untreated, primary, secondary and secondary chlorinated sewage effluent during long-term culture studies in the laboratory as well as short-term metabolic studies in the field and in the laboratory. Bossiella orbigniana, Lithothrix aspergillum and Corallina officinalis var, chilensis had relatively broad homeostatic capabilities and enhanced net production rates when exposed to primary treated sewage. In the long-term cultures, Amphiroa zonata, B. orbigniana and C. officinalis var. chilensis all demonstrated enhanced growth in the presence of primary sewage. Chlorination of effluent had only a short-term negative effect; i.e. species' responses to secondary and secondary chlorinated sewage were virtually identical beyond the second week in culture. Three populations of C. officinalis var. chilensis with differing pollution histories showed a tolerance to sewage corresponding to the extent of previous exposure, indicating that this species may be able to acclimate physiologically to sewage stress. The more sewage-tolerant macrophytes displayed lower photosynthetic quotient values during exposure to effluent than those possessing little tolerance to sewage.     

Responses of the mussel Mytilus edulis to copper and phenanthrene: Interactive effects

Most investigations of the responses of marine organisms to xenobiotics have concentrated on single contaminants and little is known of possible interactive effects of different classes of xenobiotics. As these latter seldom occur in environmental isolation, it is important to understand any interactions (synergistic or antagonistic) which may occur. This problem has been approached in the mussel Mytilus edulis by exposing estuarine mussels to copper (20 μg litre⁻¹) and phenanthrene (100 μg litre⁻¹) both individually and in combination, and measuring cytochemical subcellular and physiological responses after 3 days exposure and 3 days and 12 days recovery period. Results showed that mussels accumulated both xenobiotics during 3 days exposure. Depuration of copper was complete in 3 days recovery period, while loss of phenanthrene ranged from 30% to 70% of the concentration reached after 3 days exposure. There were no interactive effects on depuration.Both copper and phenanthrene reduced lysosomal hydrolase latency in digestive cells, and copper appeared to have a synergistic effect in preventing recovery of latency of lysosomal N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase during the recovery period. There was evidence, in the digestive cells, of an antagonistic effect of copper on stimulation of activity of the microsomal respiratory chain (measured as NADPH-neotetrazolium reductase) by phenanthrene. Stimulation of this system by phenanthrene persisted after 12 days recovery period. There was a synergistic interaction of copper and phenanthrene on elevation of oxygen consumption and ammonium excretion. Clearance rates and scope for growth (physiological condition) were depressed by copper but not by phenanthrene after 3 days exposure.These findings are discussed in terms of known effects of copper and phenanthrene and the interactions are considered in terms of environmental effects measurements.     

Elucidating cellular and behavioural effects of contaminant impact (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,PAHs) in both laboratory-exposed and field-collected shore crabs,Carcinus maenas (Crustacea: Decapoda)

Monitoring effects of contaminants at lower levels of biological organisation (e.g. biochemical and cellular) allows for mechanistic evaluation of effects of contaminant exposure through laboratory exposures. However, higher level organism effects (e.g. physiological and behavioural) are deemed more ecologically-relevant. In the present study, cellular (cell viability and immune function), physiological (cardiac activity) and behavioural (foraging behaviour) responses were evaluated in field-collected shore crabs Carcinus maenas from three estuaries [a ‘relatively’ (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) PAH-contaminated site (Plym Estuary) and two ‘comparatively clean’ field sites (Avon and Yealm Estuaries)] and compared with responses of crabs exposed in the laboratory to a model organic contaminant (PAH) pyrene (200 μg l⁻¹ for 28 days). The hypothesis that behavioural indicators may be more sensitive than other more traditional methods was tested. No significant impacts were observed at the cellular or physiological level in Plym-collected crabs (the ‘relatively’ contaminated site), but foraging behaviour was significantly altered (increased prey handling time) compared to individuals collected from the ‘relatively’ uncontaminated sites (Avon and Yealm). When given a cockle as a prey item, both Plym-collected and laboratory-exposed crabs took longer to handle and break into cockle shells. Therefore, ecologically-relevant behavioural observations may serve as valuableindicators of environmental quality.     

A time series of prokaryote secondary production in the oxygen minimum zone of the Humboldt current system, off central Chile

Because the marine picoplanktonic communities are made up of phylogenetically different microbial groups, the re-evaluation of key processes such as bacterial secondary production (BSP) has become an important contemporary issue. The difficulty of differentiating the metabolic processes of Bacteria from the rest of the microorganisms in the water column (i.e., Archaea and Eukarya) has made it difficult to estimate in situ BSP. This work presents the seasonal variability of the prokaryote secondary production (PSP) measured by the incorporation of ¹⁴C-leucine in the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) off central-southern Chile. The BSP and potential archaeal secondary production (PASP) were determined through the combined use of ¹⁴C-leucine and N¹-guanyl-1, 7-diaminoheptane (GC₇), an efficient inhibitor of archaeal and eukaryote cell growth. BSP accounted for the majority of the PSP (total average, 59 ± 7.5%); maximum values were ∼600 μg C m⁻³ h⁻¹ and, on several dates, BSP represented 100% of the PSP. Similarly, PASP was also an important fraction of the PSP (total average, 42.4 ± 8.5%), although with levels that ranged from not detectable (on given dates) to levels that represented up to ∼97% of PSP (winter 2003). Our results showed that both Bacteria and Archaea accounted for almost equal portions of the prokaryote heterotrophic metabolism in the OMZ, and that PASP is notoriously enhanced through temporal pulses of heterotrophy. This indicates that, at least in marine systems with high abundance of Archaea (e.g., mesopelagic realm), the secondary production obtained through methods measuring the uptake of radiolabeled substrates should be considered as PSP and not as BSP. If the latter is the target measurement, then the use of an inhibitor of both archaeal and eukaryote cell growth such as GC₇ is recommended.     

High resolution oxygen isotope and grayscale records of a medieval fossil giant clam (Tridacna gigas) in the South China Sea：physiological and paleoclimatic implications

Mollusks are well known for their detailed recording of paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic changes in their carbonate shells. In this study, we constructed 18-year blue color intensity and oxygen isotope profiles of a 14 C dated(AD 990±40) fossil giant clam, Tridacna gigas, from Shidao Island, South China Sea. The δ18O profile of the T. gigas specimen displayed regular annual cycles and was probably controlled by seasonal variations of the climatic parameters. The blue color intensity profile showed good agreement with the δ18O series, and both had 18 clear annual cycles in accordance with the 18 visually identified annual growth bands. The annual shell growth rate determined from the blue color intensity and oxygen isotope profiles indicated that the annual shell increment of the Tridacna specimen was stable after the onset of sexual maturity. Spectral analysis of the δ18O and blue color intensity time series suggested that the El Nio–Southern Oscillation(ENSO) period observed in the instrumental temperature and precipitation records of the South China Sea during the past 50 years also existed in medieval times. Our results showed that fossil giant clams could provide a good archive of historical intra-seasonal to decadal climate variations.     

CO2升高和阳光紫外辐射对坛紫菜生长和光合特性的耦合效应

大气CO₂持续升高,导致溶入海水中的CO₂增多,海水表层的H+浓度增加,从而引起海洋酸化。为了探讨近岸定生大型海藻对这种环境变化的响应,本文选择经济海藻坛紫菜为实验材料,研究海洋酸化与紫外辐射对藻体生长以及光合特性的影响。实验分两个CO₂处理,分别为正常空气水平(390 ppmv)和高CO₂水平(800 ppmv); 三种辐射处理,分别为全波长辐射(PAB)、滤除紫外线B(PA)和仅接受可见光处理(PAR)。研究结果表明,CO₂培养下的坛紫菜,在仅有可见光(P)或者同时有紫外线A(PA)存在的情况下,显著促进藻体的生长;但在全波长辐射处理下(PAB),这种作用不明显。高CO₂降低了藻体在P和PA处理下的光合作用速率,但对PAB处理作用不显著。高CO₂处理下的藻体,UV-B显著降低了全波长辐射下藻体紫外吸收物质的含量,但在正常CO₂水平下,紫外辐射的作用不显著。这表明高CO₂导致的生长优势被紫外辐射的负面效应所抵消,在全球变化的过程中,紫外辐射的进一步加强在海洋酸化的背景下甚至有可能降低坛紫菜的产量。     

Growth variability and stable isotope composition of two larval carangid fishes in the East Australian Current: The role of upwelling in the separation zone

The larvae of two carangid fishes, silver trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex) and yellowtail scad (Trachurus novaezelandiae), were compared among coastal water masses and the East Australian Current (EAC). Samples followed a north to south gradient including a southern region of upwelling, generated as the EAC separated from the coast. Mean larval carangid densities were greater in the mixed layer (10-30 m) than the surface, but there was no difference between inshore and offshore stations or along latitudinal gradients. Overall, P. dentex recent larval growth over two days pre-capture was faster than T. novaezelandiae, and faster at inshore, coastal stations than in the EAC. Integrated larval growth rate (mm d⁻¹) was usually faster at inshore stations for both species. T. novaezelandiae were enriched in both nitrogen (??¹⁵N) and carbon (??¹³C) stable isotopes relative to P. dentex. Larvae of both species captured within the upwelling region were enriched in ??¹⁵N and depleted in ??¹³C relative to other sites. Recent larval growth had a significant positive relationship with fluorescence (as a proxy of chlorophyll a biomass), and integrated larval growth rate had a significant positive relationship with fluorescence and larval isotope (??¹⁵N) composition. Recent and integrated growth of larval T. novaezelandiae and P. dentex was enhanced by EAC separation and upwelling, and also in coastal water; stimulated by food availability, and potentially through exploitation of a different trophic niche.     

Growth dynamics of eelgrass, Zostera marina, in the intertidal zone of Seomjin Estuary, Korea

To examine the growth dynamics of eelgrass, Zostera marina, in the intertidal zone of Seomjin Estuary, Korea, we surveyed environmental factors such as water temperature, underwater irradiance, tidal exposure, and nutrient concentrations in the water column and sediment pore water in relation to the shoot density, biomass, morphological characteristics, and growth of Z. marina inhabiting the upper and lower intertidal zones. The survey was conducted monthly from January 2003 to December 2004. The water temperature of the two areas displayed seasonal fluctuations. Underwater irradiance was significantly higher in the upper intertidal zone than in the lower intertidal zone. Tidal exposure was also markedly longer in the upper intertidal zone than in the lower intertidal zone, whereas tidal exposure was highest in the spring and lowest in the summer in both areas. Water column NH₄ ⁺ and sediment pore water NO₃ ^?+NO₂ ^? concentrations were significantly higher in the upper intertidal zone than the lower intertidal zone. The eelgrass shoot density, biomass, morphology, and leaf productivity were significantly higher in the lower intertidal zone than in the upper intertidal zone. Both areas displayed a clear seasonal variation depending on changes in water temperature. However, leaf turnover time was significantly shorter in the upper intertidal zone than in the lower intertidal zone, with a higher turnover rate in the upper intertidal zone. Compared to the seagrasses in the lower intertidal zone, those in the upper intertidal zone showed more effective adaptations to the stress of long tidal exposure through downsizing and increased turnover time. These results suggest that tidal exposure, coupled with desiccation stress, can be a limiting factor for seagrass growth in the intertidal zone, along with underwater irradiance, water temperature, and nutrient availability.     

Responses of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica to hypersaline stress duration and recovery

We studied the hypersaline stress responses of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica to determine if the species was tolerant to salinity increases that occur in coastal waters by the desalination industry. Water relations, amino acids, carbohydrates, ions, photosynthesis, respiration, chlorophyll a fluorescence, leaf growth and morphology, and plant mortality were analysed after exposing the mesocosm P. oceanica to a salinity level of 43 for one and three months followed by a month for recovery. One-month saline-stressed plants exhibited sub-lethal effects, including a leaf cell turgor pressure reduction, loss of ionic equilibrium and decreased leaf growth. There were also changes in photoprotective mechanisms, increased concentrations of organic osmolytes in leaves and reduced leaf ageing. All these dysfunctions recovered after removing the stress. After the longer exposure of three months, stress symptoms were much more acute and plants showed an excessive ionic exclusion capacity, increased leaf cell turgor, reduced plant carbon balance, increased leaf aging and leaf decay and increased plant mortality, which indicated that the plant had entered a stage of severe physiological stress. In addition, the long-term saline-stressed plants were not able to recover, still showing sustained injury after the one-month recovery period as reflected by unbalanced leaf ionic content, persistently impaired photosynthesis, decline in internal carbon resources and decreased leaf growth that resulted in undersized plants. In conclusion, P. oceanica was not able to acclimate to the saline conditions tested since it could not reach a new physiological equilibrium or recover after a chronic exposure of 3 months.     

Responses of enteric bacteria to environmental stresses in seawater

The effects of different environmental factors (nutrient deprivation, hyperosmotic shock, exposure to light) on enteric bacteria which have been transferred into the marine environment, have been studied experimentally (microcosms) by considering demographic, physiological and genetic responses in Escherichia coli or Salmonella typhimurium populations. Short-term experiments (≤ 48 h) showed that nutrient deprivation induced limited changes in measured bacteriological variables, but when combined with hyperosmotic shock, it results in an energy charge decrease and inactivation of membrane transport. Light exposure mainly affects the colony-forming capacity of bacterial populations. Combining different stress factors confirmed the rapid appearance of a viable, but nonculturable state (VBNC) in populations of E. coli and S. typhimurium. It has been shown that cellular forms other than those previously described in the literature can be generated following incubation in seawater. It was also established that pre-adaptation phenomena may occur, leading to better survival (e.g. pre-incubation in seawater in darkness enhanced survival under light exposure). An explanation concerning these phenomena can be found by looking at the rpoS gene which controls the expression of numerous genes and can trigger a general anti-stress response under different adverse conditions. Although the results provide better comprehension of the fate of enteric bacteria in the marine environment, they also raise numerous questions related to fundamental and applied problems, given in the conclusion of this paper.     

Growth of the European abalone (Haliotis tuberculata L.) in situ: Seasonality and ageing using stable oxygen isotopes

The ormer, Haliotis tuberculata is the only European abalone species commercially exploited. The determination of growth and age in the wild is an important tool for fisheries and aquaculture management. However, the ageing technique used in the past in the field is unreliable. The stable oxygen isotope composition (¹⁸O/¹⁶O) of the shell depends on the temperature and oxygen isotope composition of the ambient sea water. The stable oxygen isotope technique, developed to study paleoclimatological changes in shellfish, was applied to three H. tuberculata specimens collected in north-west Brittany. For the specimens collected, the oxygen isotope ratios of the shell reflected the seasonal cycle in the temperature. From winter-to-winter cycles, estimates of the age and the annual growth increment, ranging from 13 to 55 mm per year were obtained. This study shows that stable oxygen isotopes can be a reliable tool for ageing and growth studies of this abalone species in the wild, and for validating other estimates.     

微塑料对黑海参(Holothuria atra)免疫和消化生理的影响

为了研究微塑料对黑海参(Holothuria atra)免疫及消化生理的影响,将体重为(47.61±6.97) g的黑海参暴露于添加了不同浓度(0、10~2、10~4、10~6粒/L)聚苯乙烯微塑料的海水中,分析了黑海参的免疫和消化生理指标的变化情况。结果表明,海水中的微塑料浓度对黑海参体腔细胞的数量和吞噬活性,体腔液中酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、溶菌酶(LZM)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性均有显著影响(P0.05),而对碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性没有显著影响。随着微塑料浓度升高,黑海参的体腔细胞数量以及体腔液中ACP、LZM和SOD活性呈先持续增加后降低的趋势,体腔细胞数量、体腔液中ACP活性均在104粒/L浓度达到峰值,体腔液中LZM和SOD活性则在10~2粒/L浓度达到峰值;而体腔细胞的吞噬活性随着微塑料浓度的增加而持续增加。黑海参消化道内的淀粉酶受海水中的微塑料浓度的影响显著(P0.05),胰蛋白酶活性和脂肪酶活性没有显著变化。随着微塑料浓度升高,黑海参肠道淀粉酶活性呈先持续增加,在10~4粒/L浓度达到峰值,而后又降低;胰蛋白酶活性随着微塑料浓度的增加持续增加;而三种微塑料浓度下黑海参的脂肪酶活性均低于空白组。由此可见,海水中添加微塑料后,黑海参体内产生了免疫防御反应,并倾向于优先消化淀粉和蛋白质以快速获取能量从而适应周围环境的改变;海水中高浓度的微塑料可能对黑海参的体腔细胞结构产生损伤,导致其免疫防御能力下降,影响其正常生理活动。     

Hypoxia tolerance and antioxidant defense system of juvenile jumbo squids in oxygen minimum zones

Jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) is a large oceanic squid endemic off the Eastern Tropical Pacific that undertakes diel vertical migrations into mesopelagic oxygen minimum zones. One of the expected physiological effects of such migration is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the surface, promoted by the transition between hypoxia and reoxygenation states. The aim of this study was to investigate the energy expenditure rates and the antioxidant stress strategies of juvenile D. gigas under normoxia and hypoxia, namely by quantifying oxygen consumption rates, antioxidant enzyme activities [including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST)], heat shock protein expression (Hsp70/Hsc70), and lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA) levels]. A high significant decrease (68%) in squid’s metabolic rates was observed during hypoxia (p<0.05). This process of metabolic suppression was followed by a significant increase in Hsp70/Hsc70 expression (p<0.05), which may be interpreted as a strategy to prevent post-hypoxic oxidative damage during the squid’s night upwards migration to the surface ocean. On the other hand, in normoxia, the higher SOD and CAT activities seemed to be a strategy to cope with the reoxygenation process, and may constitute an integrated stress response at shallower depths. GST activity and MDA concentrations did not change significantly from normoxia to hypoxia (p>0.05), with the latter indicating no enhancement of lipid peroxidation (i.e. cellular damage) at the warmer and normoxic surface waters. The understanding of such physiological strategies that are linked to oxygen deprivation and reoxygenation phases may provide valuable information about how this species is quickly responding to the impacts of environmental stressors coupled with global climate change.     

Anchoring metabolic changes to phenotypic effects in the chlorophyte Scenedesmus vacuolatus under chemical exposure

In order to derive a causal understanding of toxic effects in organisms, ecotoxicology may benefit from linking molecular changes, evaluated by ‘omics’-techniques, to phenotypic observations. However, an approach to link these observation levels is still lacking.The aim of this study was to relate metabolic changes in the chlorophyte Scenedesmus vacuolatus to established parameters of toxicity. Therefore, synchronized cultures of the alga were exposed for 14 h to the phytotoxicant N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine (PNA) in the range of 0.00089 μmol L⁻¹ (environmental concentrations) up to 1.82 μmol L⁻¹. Cell growth and photosynthesis inhibition were evaluated but revealed no effect of PNA at experimental concentrations below 0.456 μmol L⁻¹. Changes in the biochemical composition of algae were measured by GC–MS in both polar and non-polar phases. PCA uncovered no separation in the multivariate pattern of mass spectral features at exposure concentrations below 0.00356 μmol L⁻¹ of PNA. However, a clear separation was detected at concentrations higher than 0.00713 μmol L⁻¹. A combined visualization of PCA results for metabolic changes and concentration–response relationships for growth and photosynthesis inhibition revealed (I) a two orders of magnitude higher sensitivity of metabolomics to detects changes after PNA exposure compared to the phenotypic parameters measured and (II) two types of metabolic responses: one group of features was reflecting pharmacological effects at low exposure concentrations and the second group corresponded to adverse effects along with conventional observations of toxicity.     

Bacterioplankton responses to iron enrichment during the SAGE experiment

We studied the microbial food web in the upper 100 m of the water column in iron-limited sub-Antarctic HNLC waters south-east of New Zealand in the SAGE experiment in 2004, with focus on bacterioplankton. Samples were collected daily from inside and outside the iron enriched patch. Short term enrichment experiments were conducted on board in 4 L polycarbonate bottles with water outside the iron enriched patch to study single and combined effects of micronutrient additions on microbial food web. Low bacterial growth was recorded in the study area with community turnover times of 50 h or more during the study period. Measurements of bacterial standing stocks and production rates in the study show minor responses to the large scale iron enrichment, with increase in rates and stocks after the first enrichment and at the end of the study period after the third iron enrichment when solar radiation increased and wind mixing decreased. The average daily bacterial production rates were 31.5 and 33.7 mgCm⁻² d⁻¹ for the OUT and IN stations, respectively; thus overall there was not a significant difference between the control and the iron-enriched patch. In the bottle experiments bacterial thymidine incorporation showed responses to single iron and silicic acid enrichments and a major growth response to the combined iron and sucrose enrichments. Phytoplankton chlorophyll-a showed clear stimulation by single additions of iron and silicic acid and silicic acid enhanced the iron impact. Cobalt additions had no effect on bacteria growth and a negative effect on phytoplankton growth. Low bacterial in situ growth rates and the enrichment experiments suggest that bacteria are co-limited by iron and carbon, and that bacterial iron uptake is dependent on carbon supply by the food web. With the high iron quota (??mol Fe mol C⁻¹) bacteria may scavenge considerable amounts of the excess iron, and thus influence the relative importance of the microbial food web as a carbon sink.     

Effects of benzene and dimethylnaphthalene on homeostatic processes in two species of crabs

Long-term exposure of animals to sub-lethal doses of toxicants such as benzene (B) and dimethylnaphthalene (DMN) may result in subtle changes in their physiology and biochemistry. In crustaceans such changes include decreased rate of limb regeneration, extended time to molt and decreased growth increment at molt.^1,2 These processes depend upon an adequate supply of stored nutrients in the tissues and appropriate release of neuroendocrine substances from the central nervous system.^3,4 We are examining the effects of sub-lethal doses of B and DMN on osmotic and ionic regulation and on nutrient storage in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, and the green crab, Carcinus maenas. Disturbances in these physiological processes may reflect alterations in neuroendocrine functions brought about by the presence of toxicants. We find that exposure of C. maenas to B or DMN, followed by transfer to a dilute medium, results in impaired osmoregulatory capacity, while addition of these compounds to a dilute medium to which the animal is already acclimated does not affect their regulatory ability. Storage of carbohydrate in the midgut gland (hepatopancreas) is decreased by B or DMN, while the accessory storage tissues (gill, muscle) are not significantly affected.     

不同粒径TiO_2颗粒对海洋微藻的毒性效应

本实验以新月菱形藻为受试生物,研究了低浓度不同粒径TiO2颗粒(21nm、60nm和400nm)对海洋微藻生长、抗氧化酶活性(超氧化物歧化酶SOD、过氧化氢酶CAT和过氧化物酶POD)、脂质过氧化产物(MDA)含量的影响,并测定了相应的活性氧自由基(ROS)的含量,初步探讨了TiO2颗粒对海洋微藻的作用机制。结果表明,1mg/L TiO2颗粒对新月菱形藻生长的抑制作用随着粒径的减小而逐渐增强,第48h、72h、96h呈现出显著的纳米效应。TiO2颗粒可以诱导藻细胞内ROS的含量增加,对藻细胞产生氧化胁迫,新月菱形藻的抗氧化酶活性发生应激响应,以清除过量的ROS,但剩余的ROS对藻细胞产生氧化损伤,导致MDA含量升高,并且纳米级TiO2颗粒对新月菱形藻的氧化损伤大于微米级颗粒。在不同粒径TiO2颗粒的胁迫下,藻细胞SOD和CAT活性的响应也存在差异。本研究将为开展人工纳米材料对海洋生态系统影响的潜在风险评估提供科学依据。     

Benzo(a)pyrene induced glycine N-methyltransferase messenger RNA expression in Fundulus heteroclitus embryos

Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) is a mediator in the methionine and folate cycles, and is responsible for the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to glycine forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and sarcosine. All the known DNA methyltransferases use SAM as a methyl donor thus, GNMT is critically involved in regulation of DNA methylation. Altered GNMT activities have been associated with liver pathologies including hepatocellular carcinoma. The homotetramer form of GNMT is enzymatically active, but the homodimeric form has been suggested as the 4S PAH-binding protein which may mediate CYP1A expression. To further understand the role of GNMT in benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-related toxicity, full length Fundulus heteroclitus GNMT cDNA was cloned from adult liver. The open reading frame (ORF) of GNMT is 888 base pairs long and encodes a deduced protein of 295 amino acids which has 74% identity with human GNMT. Expression of GNMT mRNA was determined by quantitative RT-PCR. In unfertilized, 2 days postfertilization (dpf), and 3 dpf embryos GNMT was constitutively higher than in 4, 7, 10 or 14 dpf embryos. Embryos were also exposed to waterborne BaP at 10 and 100 μg L⁻¹, and by 10 dpf the higher BaP dose caused increased expression of GNMT mRNA. These results suggest that PAH exposure may alter expression of an important physiological methylation mediator. Future work will be necessary to determine enzyme level effects of BaP exposure as well.