Effects of PCBs sorbed to algal paste and sediments on the stress protein response (HSP70 family) in the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica.

This study examined the stress protein response (HSP70 family) of reproductively inactive oysters fed 0.7 g algal paste containing 0, 0.35 and 3.5 micrograms polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) daily. A second set of treatment groups investigated the combined effect of PCBs and sediments (0.3 g sediments daily per oyster) on HSP70 response. After 8 weeks of PCB exposure, oyster tissues (mantle and gill) were sampled and analyzed for HSP70. Preliminary results did not show a significant effect in HSP70 response in oysters fed PCB sorbed to algal paste, albeit PCBs accumulated up to 1342 ng/g dry weight in the mantle, and up to 180 ng/g dry weight in gill tissues. However, the addition of sediments caused a significant increase in HSP70 levels of gills and mantle, although the mantle was less sensitive to the sediments.     

The respiratory response of juvenile mud crabs, Rhithropanopeus harrisii to variations in salinity and following short-term exposure to halowax 1099®, a polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN)

Juvenile mud crabs Rhithropanopeus harrisii were exposed for five days to Halowax 1099, a polychlorinated naphthalene (approximately 1:1 ratio of tri- and tetrachlorinated isomers). Exposure concentrations were 0, 20, 50 or 100 μg/litre. The exposure salinity was 15%. At the end of the exposure period, respiratory rates of the crabs were determined at 15% S. The respiratory rates were also determined for control and exposed animals which were osmotically shocked by a move from 15% S to either 5 or 25% S immediately before respirometry. Exposure to PCNs always caused the mean respiratory rates of juvenile crabs to increase over control values. The respiratory response of crabs to PCN exposure was similar at the steady-state salinity (15% S) and after hyperosmotic shock (25% S). However, the mean rate for animals exposed to PCNs and given a hyposmotic shock was significantly higher than that for controls and for PCN-exposed animals at the other two salinities. Since hyperosmotic regulation of body fluids is most active at low salinities in this species, we suggest that the PCNs interfere with hyperosmotic regulation and reduce the efficiency of metabolic compensation for hyposmotic shock. The higher energetic cost of acclimation to transient reductions in salinity would be potentially detrimental to wild populations in impacted areas.     

Long-term environmental exposure to metals (Cu,Cd, Pb,Zn) activates the immune cell stress response in the common European sea star (Asterias rubens)

The common sea star Asterias rubens represents a key-species of the North-Eastern Atlantic macro benthic community. The cells of their immune system, known as coelomocytes, are the first line of defence against environmental hazards. Here, we report the results of investigations on the immune cells response of sea stars exposed to marine environmental pollution for long periods. We show that levels of the heat shock cognate protein 70 (HSC70) in coelomocytes from A. rubens, which were collected during a field study in the Sǿrfjord (North Sea, SW coast of Norway) along a contamination gradient, are directly associated with the long-term accumulation of Cd, Cu heavy metals exclusively in the tegument. Conversely, Pb and Zn accumulation in the tegument did not relate to HSC70 levels and none of the metals were found accumulated in the pyloric coeca. In addition the coelomocytes from A. rubens, collected in high and low metal impacted stations were examined by a proteomic approach using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE). By comparison of the proteomic maps, we observed that 31 protein spots differed in their relative abundance, indicating a gene expression response to the metal mixture exposure. All together, our results confirm that the echinoderm immune cells are a suitable model for the assessment of long-term exposure to environmental pollution, moreover that the increased level of HSC70 can be considered a signal of an acquired tolerance within a large spectrum of protein profile changes occurring in response to metal contamination.