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Subcellular localization of chromium and nickel in root cells of Allium cepa by EELS and ESI

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Abstract

The ultrastructural investigation of the root cells ofAllium cepa L. exposed to two different concentrations of chromium + nickel (Cr+Ni) (10 μmol/L and 100 μmol/L) revealed that toxic symptoms were induced by increasing heavy metal concentration and treatment time. Several significant ultrastructural changes were caused by 100 μmol/L Cr+Ni – deposition of electron dense material in cell walls; larger vacuolar precipitates surrounded by membranes inside vacuoles; increment of disintegrated organelles and high vacuolization in cytoplasm. The localization of the precipitates in which the metal ions were detected by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) was investigated. Chromium and nickel were localized in the electron dense precipitates of the root cells exposed to only 100 μmol/L Cr+Ni. None were found in the root cells exposed to 10 μmol/L Cr+Ni. Higher amounts of Cr+Ni were mainly accumulated in the cell walls and vacuoles of the fourth or fifth cortical layer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, P.R. China

    D. Liu

  2. Botanisches Institut, Spezielle Botanik, Eberhard-Karls Universitaet Tübingen, Mykologie, Tübingen, Germany

    D. Liu & I. Kottke

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  1. D. Liu
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  2. I. Kottke
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Liu, D., Kottke, I. Subcellular localization of chromium and nickel in root cells of Allium cepa by EELS and ESI. Cell Biol Toxicol 19, 299–311 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CBTO.0000004984.87619.15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CBTO.0000004984.87619.15

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