CONTENT - International Society of Zoological Sciences

ICZ2008 – Abstracts S19
In animals treated with alkaloids, we noted a tear in internal
longitudinal muscles and external circular muscles in the
stomodeum and proctodeum and destruction of some epithelial
cells in the medial intestine. We also observe a tear in external
circular muscles and destruction of some epithelial cells in the
stomodeum of bacterial-treated individuals. The two agents show a
clear decrease in the opening number of metathoracic stigma and
heartbeat; the effect of C. triflorus alkaloids on respiratory rate was
greater than that of B. thuringiensis, although the heartbeat rate
was almost the same for both test agents. However, the bacterium
has a greater effect on haemolymph, since the treatment causes a
considerable decrease in haemocyte number. In conclusion, it
appears that the two control agents show significant effects on the
physiology of S. gregaria. It is important, therefore, to extend
studies on these two control agents for use in integrated control.
Effects of water-borne copper on the isozymes and on the
ultrastructure of gills and hepatopancreas in Macrobrachium
rosenbergii
Na Li 1,3 , Qiang Ma 1 , Jian Yang 2 , Yunlong Zhao 1 and Jean-Claude
Brochon 3
1 School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai
200062, China; 2 Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment and
Resources of Inland Fisheries, Freshwater Fisheries Research
Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081,
China ; 3 CNRS, UMR8113, Laboratoire de Biotechnologies et
Pharmacologie Génétique Appliquée, Ecole Normale Supérieure
Cachan, 61 avenue du Président Wilson, 94235 Cachan cedex,
France
Present study is focused on elucidating toxic effects of water-born
copper on giant freshwater prawns Macrobrachium rosenbergii.
After 7 days exposure to copper (Cu 2+ ) concentrations ranging
from 0.01 mg/l to 0.5 mg/l, three isozymes, including malate
dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and esterase, were
analyzed and compared by use of polyacrylamide electrophoresis
(PAGE) and biochemical staining. Results indicated that
electrophoretic patterns of isozymes showed a copper
concentration-related difference. Low doses of copper stimulated a
strong expression for three isozymes. Electrophoretic patterns of
malate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase gradually
became weaker or even lost as the copper level increase; on the
contrary, esterase patterns exhibited an increased molecular
heterogeneity in higher copper concentrations. Meanwhile,
transmission electron microscope (TEM) was adopted to study the
ultrastructure differences of gills and hepatopancreas in M.
rosenbergii, results showed a significant structural damage as the
increase of copper level: compared with the control group,
basement membranes and mitochondira in gills were seriously
damaged. Cuticle electron density distributed inhomogeneously;
infolded basement membrane, circularized nucleus, disintegrated
nuclear membrane; decreased mitochondria number and size
were observed in gills. Similarly, flowing out of karyoplasms, partly
falling microvilli, decreased mitochondrion, partly disappeared
mitochondrial cristae, thinned matrix were observed in
hepatopancreas. Present studies indicated that, exposure to
elevated copper levels might damage the ultrastructure of gills and
hepatopancreas in M. rosenbergii and further weaken their normal
physical activities; isozymes were quite sensitive to the
environment stress and changes of isozymes electrophoretic
patterns could be effective biomarkers to environment
contamination.
Combined effects of gallic acid and propolis on berylliuminduced
hepatorenal toxicity
Satendra Kumar Nirala 1,4 , Pei Qiang Li 2 , Monika Bhadauria 3 and
Guang Qin Guo 1
1 School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior-474011,
India ; 2 Institute of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences,
Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China ; 3 National
Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University,
Lanzhou, 730000, PR China ; 4 Institute of Cell Biology, School of
Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
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The combined effect of gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxy benzoic acid;
GA; 50 mg/kg, i.p.) and propolis (200 mg/kg, p.o.) was evaluated
against beryllium induced biochemical and morphological
alterations of liver and kidney. Female albino rats were exposed to
beryllium nitrate (1mg/kg, ip) daily for 28 days followed by
treatment of above mentioned therapeutic agents either
individually or in combination for 5 consecutive days. Exposure to
beryllium increased its concentration in serum, liver and kidney
and caused significant alterations in cytochrome P450 enzymes,
microsomal lipid peroxidation and protein contents. Beryllium
administration significantly altered the aspartate
aminotransaminase, alanine aminotransaminase, lactate
dehydrogenase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, bilirubin, creatinine
and urea in serum; activity of acid phosphatase, alkaline
phosphatase, adenosine triphosphatase, glucose-6-phophatase
and succinic dehydrogenase, triglycerides, cholesterol, protein
contents, glycogen contents, lipid peroxidation and glutathione
level in liver and kidney. Beryllium exposure induced severe
alterations in hepatorenal morphology proving its toxic
consequences at cellular level. Individual administration of GA and
propolis recovered some of the studied parameters moderately
towards control. Interestingly, GA in conjunction with propolis
reversed the alterations of all the variables more towards control
concluding beneficial effects of combined therapy over mono
therapy in alleviation of beryllium induced systemic toxicity.
Biomarkers in Crassostrea gigas larvae in a transplant
experiment in Archachon harbour (France)
Françoise Quiniou 1 , Gautier Damiens 2 , Xavier Caisey 1 , Catherine
Mouneyrac 3 , Hélène Budzinski 4 and Michèle Roméo 2
1 Département Biogéochimie et Ecotoxicologie IFREMER - Centre
de Brest, B.P. 70, 29280 Plouzané, France ; 2 EA ECOMERS
Ecosystèmes Côtiers Marins et Réponses aux Stress, Faculté des
Sciences, BP 71, 06108 Nice Cedex 2, France ; 3 Centre d’Etude
et de Recherche sur les écosystèmes aquatiques, IBEA/UCO, BP
10808, 49008 Angers Cedex 01, France and Service
d’Ecotoxicologie, SMAB-ISOMER, Faculté des Sciences, BP
92208, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France ; 4 LPTC Université de
Bordeaux I, 3405 Talence, France
Early embryo-larval stages of bivalve molluscs are frequently used
in marine exotoxicology; however laboratory studies cannot
accurately simulate natural conditions. Field experiments can
eliminate artefacts resulting from artificial laboratory conditions
affecting the real toxicity and bioavailability of contaminants. Two
field experiments were conducted (July 2002 and June 2004) in
which fertilized gametes from Crassostrea gigas were placed into
a special container (device patented by Ifremer). Embryos kept in
the containers were immersed into two sites of Arcachon harbour
(A: entrance of the harbour and P) for 48 h (field temperature 22 ±
1°C, salinity 32.0 ± 0.5). The containers were ballasted so as to
keep them at a depth of 1 meter under the surface. Larvae were
collected and biomarkers (acetylcholinesterase AChE, catalase
CAT, glutathione transferase GST activities, Thiobarbituric acid
reactive substances TBARS, metallothionein concentrations MT)
determined in the samples as well as metal and PAH (polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons) concentrations in larvae and sediments
collected under the containers. The results show that GST activity
and TBARS levels were significantly higher at P than at A. MT and
copper concentrations in larvae tended to increase from A to P
whereas AChE activity showed a trend to be lower at P. Organics
in larvae showed a tendency to be higher at A than P. Pollutant
concentrations in sediments showed the same trends as larvae. At
P, larvae seemed to be submitted to an oxidative stress inducing
lipid peroxidation of the membranes (shown by TBARS and GST
activity), this stress might be caused by copper present in the
surrounding environment. Larvae, caged in A (entrance of the
harbour) where water masses flow, seemed to be affected by low
molecular weight PAHs such as naphtalene which are soluble
compounds (contrary to high weight compounds). Moreover, the
percentage of abnormal larvae was higher at A (40 %) than P (60
%) suggesting that A was more exposed to embryotoxic pollutants
than P. Nevertheless both sites may be considered as submitted
to anthropogenic influence. As conclusion, transplantation of
larvae together with chemical and biomarkers measurements
constitute an “active biomonitoring” providing early warning signal
of pollution.