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Lysosomal Membrane Stability of the Mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis (L.), as a Biomarker of Tributyltin Exposure

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Abstract

The effect of tributyltin (TBT) on the stability of hemocytic lysosome membranes of the mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, and the use thereof as a biomarker of TBT-induced stress, was investigated. Mussels were exposed to 0.1 and 1.0 µg/L tributyltin respectively for 4 weeks. Lysosomal membrane stability of hemocytes was tested weekly by means of the neutral red retention time (NRRT) assay, after which the mussel samples were analyzed for TBT content. The two exposed groups exhibited significantly increased (p < 0.05) whole body TBT concentrations with concomitant significant decreases (p < 0.05) in NRRT (R2 values of 0.85 and 0.971 for lower and higher exposure groups, respectively). The higher exposure group showed a typical dose–response curve. For the control, no TBT was detected and NRRT remained stable. It was concluded that the NRRT assay could be considered as a useful technique, and lysosomal membrane destabilization a useful early warning and cellular biomarker of stress due to TBT exposure in M. galloprovincialis.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa, for financial support for data collection and analyses, as well as the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, for a staff development grant for the main author.

Ethical standard

This study was evaluated and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology. It complies with the requirements set by the Ethics Review Board, CPUT, and with environmental legislation of the Republic of South Africa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 652, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa

    Hussein K. Okoro, Olalekan S. Fatoki & Bhekumusa J. Ximba

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Ilorin, P.M.B.1515, Ilorin, Nigeria

    Folahan A. Adekola

  3. Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Management, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 652, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa

    Reinette G. Snyman & Michelle Y. Slabber

Authors
  1. Hussein K. Okoro
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  2. Reinette G. Snyman
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  3. Olalekan S. Fatoki
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  4. Folahan A. Adekola
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  5. Bhekumusa J. Ximba
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  6. Michelle Y. Slabber
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Reinette G. Snyman.

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Okoro, H.K., Snyman, R.G., Fatoki, O.S. et al. Lysosomal Membrane Stability of the Mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis (L.), as a Biomarker of Tributyltin Exposure. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 94, 609–613 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-015-1526-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-015-1526-4

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