ABSTRACT: Damage to blood cell lysosomes was investigated in vitro in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis collected from a series of sites in the Lagoon of Venice, Italy, and correlated with total tissue burdens for a range of contaminants. Retention of the cationic probe neutral red within the lysosomal compartment over time was used as a measure of damage to the lysosomal membrane. Multi-stepwise regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between altered cellular physiology and total body burdens of contaminants. Organochlorines (DDT, HCH and Aroclor 1254), mercury and cobalt were the principle factors involved in evoking pathological responses.

KEY WORDS: Mytilus galloprovincialis .Lysosomes . Blood cells . Pathology . Neutral red retention . Contaminants . Venice Lagoon

Published in MEPS Vol. 129 (1995) on December 14
ISSN: 0171-8630. Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 1995