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Effects of cadmium exposure on metal-containing amoebocytes of the oyster Ostrea edulis

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Abstract

Oysters, Ostrea edulis, were exposed to cadmium (0.1 mg l-1) for up to 110 d (in 1982) under laboratory conditions in order to determine the effect of Cd exposure on blood amoebocytes. The results demonstrate that Cd-accumulation does not alter the total Cu and Zn concentrations in gill tissue. There was a decrease in the numbers of metal-containing amoebocytes, and electron microprobe analysis showed that this was largely due to a reduction in numbers of the mixed Cu/Zn-containing cells rather than in Cu-or Zn-containing cells. It is postulated that this response, which may involve the release of metals from amoebocytes into gill tissue, is a generalised stress response of this oyster. No evidence was found for the presence of a specific Cd-containing blood cell or Cd-binding protein in blood cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Biochemistry, Natural Environment Research Council, St. Fittick's Road, AB1 3RA, Aberdeen, Scotland

    S. G. George & B. J. S. Pirie

  2. The Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, 21205, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    J. M. Frazier

Authors
  1. S. G. George
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  2. B. J. S. Pirie
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  3. J. M. Frazier
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Communicated by J. Mauchline, Oban

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George, S.G., Pirie, B.J.S. & Frazier, J.M. Effects of cadmium exposure on metal-containing amoebocytes of the oyster Ostrea edulis . Marine Biology 76, 63–66 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393056

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393056

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