Disturbance of a met-enkephalin-like hormone in the hepatopancreas of crabs contaminated by metals

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-6513(86)90064-3· OSTI ID:5230036

Amiard-Triquet, C; Amiard, J C; Ferrand, R; Andersen, A C; Dubois, M P

This study combines trace-metal analysis with an immunofluorescent detection of a methionine-enkephalin-like substance in the digestive gland of the shore crab, Carcinus maenas L. The crabs were taken from two sites: Saint Nazaire and Le Croisic, the first being polluted in comparison to the second. The experimental crabs were also taken in Le Croisic and contaminated with Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn during 1 to 3 weeks in the laboratory. The immunohistological observations indicate a change in the localization of the immunofluorescent methionine-enkephalin-like substance in the cells of the tubules constituting the digestive gland. In crabs from the clean site, experimentally starved or not, the immunofluorescence appears mostly basal while it exhibits an apical localization in metal-contaminated crabs or crabs caught in the polluted area. The detected substance, the nature of which remains unknown, accompanies cytoplasmic secretory granules during their migration to the cellular apex preceding the apocrine secretion. This change of the immunoreactivity enables the detection of metal contamination but it is nonspecific and therefore, a general environment pollution could produce the same phenomenon. In the particular case of zinc, this alteration appears at a Zn concentration in seawater which does not disturb the natural level of this essential metal in the digestive gland of C. maenas.

• Research Organization: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Nantes, France
• OSTI ID: 5230036
• Journal Information: Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf.; (United States), Vol. 2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CADMIUM
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
COPPER
CRABS
CONTAMINATION
LEAD
ZINC
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
HORMONES
LIVER
METHIONINE
PANCREAS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TRACE AMOUNTS
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CRUSTACEANS
DECAPODS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
DRUGS
ELEMENTS
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
GLANDS
INVERTEBRATES
LIPOTROPIC FACTORS
METALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
560304* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Invertebrates- (-1987)