Aquatic snails from mining sites have evolved to detect and avoid heavy metals.

Toxicants in polluted environments are often patchily distributed. Hence, rather than being passive absorbers of pollution, some organisms have evolved the ability to detect and avoid toxicants. We studied the avoidance behavior of Physella columbiana, an aquatic pulmonate snail, in a pond that has been polluted with heavy metals for more than 120 years. Populations of this snail are rare at reference sites and are only robust at heavy-metal-polluted sites. We hypothesized that the snails are able to persist because they have evolved the ability to minimize their exposure to metals by actively avoiding metals in their environment. Using a Y-maze flow tank, we tested the avoidance behavior of snails to heavy-metal-polluted sediments and single-metal solutions of cadmium, zinc, or lead. We also tested the avoidance behaviors of the snails' laboratory-reared offspring raised in nonpolluted conditions. In addition, we tested the avoidance behavior of a small population of snails from a reference pond. Although all the snails we tested were able to detect low concentrations of heavy metals, we found that snails from the polluted site were the most sensitive, that their offspring were somewhat less sensitive, and that snails from the reference site were the least sensitive. This suggests that the ability of polluted-site snails to avoid heavy metals is both genetic and environmental. The concentrations of metals avoided by the snails from the polluted site were below the levels found at hot spots within their natal pond. The snails may be able to persist at this site because they decrease their exposure by moving to less-polluted sections of the pond. One application of our findings is the use of aquatic snails and our Y-maze design as an inexpensive pollution detector. Environmental pollutants such as lead, zinc, and arsenic are a problem throughout the world. People in underdeveloped countries often lack sophisticated pollution detection devices. We have developed a behavioral assay of aquatic pollution that is easy to use, is extremely sensitive (detection below 10 ppb), and can be constructed for fewer than 100 US dollars. Pulmonate snails are widely distributed in tropical, subtropical, and temperate parts of the globe, and they are often common in polluted waters. For countries such as India and Bangladesh, which must test thousands of shallow wells for possible contamination with heavy metals, our assay would be a good initial test. Once snails detected metals, then those samples could be confirmed by spectrometers. We encourage scientists in underdeveloped nations to consider our assay as an option.

A condition resembling pagetoid reticulosis in a laboratory mouse.

A raised, hairless cutaneous nodule was found incidentally at necropsy of a 24-month-old CD1 mouse. Histologically there was infiltration of the epidermis by a monomorphic population of moderate to large lymphocytoid cells. Many large cells had bizarre convolutions of the nuclear membrane and resembled the so-called Sézary or mycosis cells seen in epidermotropic T-cell proliferative disorders. The pattern of cutaneous involvement and the presence of the large cells with convoluted nuclei is characteristic of pagetoid reticulosis. No previous reports of such cutaneous lymphoid neoplasms in mice were found in an extensive literature search.

Hepatocytes in the mouse stomach.

Hepatocytes occurred in the stomach as incidental findings in 4 110-112-week-old mice (3 B6C3F1 and 1 Crl:COBS-CD1) sacrificed at termination of 2-yr toxicity/carcinogenicity bioassays of unrelated chemicals. Both sexes, and control and treated animals, were affected. Grossly, 2 mice only had 1.0-5.0 mm, smooth, cream-colored nodules protruding from the glandular stomach mucosa. Histologically, the glandular stomach submucosa and lamina propria adjacent to the limiting ridge, and in one case, the forestomach submucosa had circumscribed accumulations of well-differentiated hepatocytes with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and round central nuclei. Adjacent gastric glands sometimes exhibited dilation, epithelial hyperplasia, mineralization and/or microherniation into the submucosa. Ultrastructurally, the hepatocytes were polygonal cells with abundant mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum; intercellular bile canaliculus-like structures exhibiting intraluminal microvilli and bounded by desmosomes were also present. No evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma or primary gastric neoplasms was found. No definitive conclusions concerning cell of origin or pathogenesis of these hepatocytes could be made, but hypotheses include congenital anomaly or post-natal transdifferentiation (metaplasia).

Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumours in three cats and a dog.

Neoplasms histologically similar to calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumour (CEOT) of man are described in three cats and a dog. The diagnostic features of these neoplasms are their occurrence in the jaw and the histological appearance of cords of epithelial cells, amyloid spherules and foci of calcification. The histogenesis and behaviour of the tumour are discussed.

Lymphangiosarcoma in two cats.

Cutaneous tumours consisting of irregular empty anastomosing spaces lined by spindle cells were diagnosed as lymphangiosarcoma in two cats. The tumour cells exhibited the characteristic lining up along pre-existing collagen and muscle fibres. Because of the small number of cases of lymphangiosarcoma in cats, conclusions regarding biological behaviour or breed incidence are not made.

Spontaneous ovarian neoplasms of the laboratory rat.

A wide range of spontaneous tumors of the ovary are reported in a group of 5903 aged female Sprague-Dawley rats of the CD and CFY strains examined since 1978 in this laboratory. The most commonly observed tumor was the tubular adenoma. Others recorded were tubular adenocarcinoma, papillary cystadenoma, papillary cystadenocarcinoma, a Sertoli's cell tumor, benign and malignant granulosa cell tumors, benign thecal cell tumors, and classical mesotheliomas of ovarian origin. A system of classification and nomenclature of the ovarian tumors from this group is advanced.

A survey of parasitic lesions in wild-caught, laboratory-maintained primates: (rhesus, cynomolgus, and baboon).

The lesions associated with parasitic infestation in 1156 wild-caught, laboratory-maintained nonhuman primates (Macaca fascicularis, Macaca mulatta, and Papio spp) are described. The two most common parasites seen were lung mites (Pneumonyssus spp) and nodular worms (Oesophagostomum spp). In addition, in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) only, Nochtia nochti was a frequent pathogen. The etiology of mineralized fibrotic nodules in the mesentery of cynomolgus monkeys was thought to be infection with Paragonimus westermani, the oriental lung fluke.

Mononuclear cell leukemia in aged Sprague-Dawley rats.

A mononuclear cell leukemia in Sprague-Dawley rats is described in which liver, spleen, and lung involvement was a constant feature. The cell was 16 to 25 microns in diameter with round, oval or indented nucleus, and the cytoplasm contained bright red granules. This is the first report of such a leukemia in Sprague-Dawley rats and a comparison with mononuclear cell leukemia in other strains of laboratory rats is made.

Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscin storage in a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis).

The light and electron microscopical characteristics of non-age-related neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis in a young cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) are described. The pigment in the neuronal cytoplasm was PAS-positive, sudanophilic, weakly acid-fast, and positive with Schmorl's and aldehydefuchsin stains for lipofuscin. Ultra-structurally, it appeared as membrane-bound, electron-dense aggregates within the cytoplasm of neurones of both brain and spinal cord.

Anomalous spinal cord in a domestic fowl.

An anomalous spinal cord is described in a domestic fowl in which there was deviation of the central canal in the first cervical segment.

Vaterite: a mineralization product of the hard tissues of a marine organism (Ascidiacea).

X-ray diffraction and infrared absorption spectra show that the spicules of the common tropical ascidian, Herdmania momus, are mineralized with vaterite. These are the first strictly marine organisms known to normally precipitate vaterite. The biomineralization of vaterite may constitute another link between the urochordates and vertebrates. The vaterite of ascidian spicules immersed in natural seawater remains mineralogically unchanged for 1 year, which indicates that vaterite may be preserved transiently in marine sediments.