Trace metals, metal-binding proteins and histopathology of the hepatopancreas in Dungeness crab

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:392354

Thompson, J A.J. ^[1]; Brand, D ^[2]; Yunker, M B

---

1. Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Sidney, British Columbia (Canada)
2. Univ. of Victoria, British Columbia (Canada)

The authors have been examining trace metals and histopathology of the hepatopancreas in the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister, from four sites in the Fraser R. estuary and at two reference sites. Animals were collected at the same time over a two-year period. Tissues were analyzed for their trace metal content using ICPS and for metal-binding protein using pulse polarography. ANOVA and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed on all data. Copper, cadmium and silver are significantly higher in areas receiving sewage discharge. Copper and silver covary in all PCA models and form a cluster distinct from all other metals. The strong covariance raises the possibility that animals are taking up Ag along with Cu. In all PCA models, Ca and Sr (and to lesser extent Ba) form a distinct cluster in the third PC. Histopathological examination of crab hepatopancreatic tissue was carried out to determine if any idiopathic differences existed among populations from the Fraser River estuary and the reference sites. Four cell types were identified in all tissues examined: E-cell (embryonic), R-cell (reserve), B-cell (basophilic) and F-cell (fibrillar). The degree of vacuolation and glycogen storage within the R-cells was significantly greater in crabs collected from the estuary. Also, a significantly higher number of crabs from this site possessed proliferative invasive granulocytes associated with the hepatopancreas. Additionally, nucleolar hypertrophy within the F-cells occurred in crabs collected from the Fraser estuary, relative to those from the reference sites. The hepatopancreas may serve as a suitable subject for further examination of contaminant effects, since cell types show a varied response to exposure.

• OSTI ID: 392354
• Report Number(s): CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ANIMAL TISSUES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
BRITISH COLUMBIA
CADMIUM
COPPER
CRABS
LIVER
PANCREAS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RIVERS
SILVER
TOXICITY
TRACE AMOUNTS
WATER POLLUTION