TP11 Metals in the Environment: Aquatic Biological Perspectives
Tuesday, 15 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM in Exhibit Hall

(PAG-1117-488086) Acute copper toxicity in branchial epithelium cells from euryhaline blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Decapoda: Portunidae).

Paganini, C¹, Filgueira, D², Trindade, G², Bianchini, A^{1, 2, 3}, ¹ PPGOB, Rio Grande, RS, Brasil² PPGCF, Rio Grande, RS, Brasil³ DCF, Rio Grande, RS, Brasil

ABSTRACT- Copper accumulation in gills seems to be the factor controlling metal toxicity, since copper has been recognized as being an osmoregulatory toxicant. As the cell is the site where contaminant accumulation, metabolism and toxicity occur, certain cellular responses have been used as biomarkers of contaminant exposure and effects in ecotoxicology studies. Innovative approaches based on in vitro toxicology have been introduced for biomarker measurement that could be useful to integrate cellular and whole animal processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute copper toxicity in branchial epithelium cells from the euryhaline blue crab Callinectes sapidus. General procedures to obtain isolated gill pavement cells from posterior gills were performed. Cell culture was maintained for 48h, using media 199 (800 mOsmol/kg). Culture media was pre–equilibrated (3 h) with different copper concentrations (1, 10, and 100 M CuCl₂) prior to cell introduction. Cells (4x10⁵ cells/ml) were then added and after 0, 1, 3, and 6 h of exposure, cell counting and viability were determined by trypan blue exclusion method. Under control conditions, cell viability was constant (∼80%) during the 6 h period of incubation. Cell viability was also unaffected over the incubation time with 1 M Cu, whereas 10 M Cu produced a significant decrease (p<0.05) in cell viability (62, 57, and 55% after 1, 3, and 6 h of exposure, respectively). At 100 M Cu, a higher decrease in cell viability was observed (57, 50, and 42%, respectively). Results show an acute copper toxic in branchial cells isolated from posterior gills of C. sapidus. They also indicate that these cells are more sensitive to copper than other cells types isolated from invertebrates. This sensitivity could be at the basis of the metal–induced osmoregulatory disturbance observed in both aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates. (Supported by CNPq).

Key words: Callinectes sapidus, gill, copper, acute toxicity