RESUMO
In the present study the mercury concentration has been investigated in three components of a rock pool environment of Genoa Nervi (Ligurian Sea): water, particulate matter and Tigriopus fulvus (Harpacticoid copepod). The influence of some parameters (pH, temperature, salinity, rainfall) on mercury concentration has been evaluated. These data show that the mercury concentration is greater in Tigriopus males than in females and that the concentration also depends on temperature variations.
Assuntos
Mercúrio/análise , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Animais , Crustáceos/química , Feminino , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Masculino , Oceanos e MaresRESUMO
Cytotoxic, hemolytic and clastogenic activities of Rhizostoma pulmo toxin(s) contained in the jelly tissue free of nematocysts were investigated in mammalian cells with in vitro procedures. At the concentration of 37.6 microg/ml the tissue protein produced the death of 50% V79 cells; a similar potency was observed in terms of hemolytic activity. The toxin(s) was not clastogenic for human lymphocytes in culture at the concentration of 5 microg/ml.
Assuntos
Eritrócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Linfócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Toxinas Marinhas/toxicidade , Cifozoários , Animais , Linhagem Celular , Feminino , Humanos , Testes para MicronúcleosRESUMO
Cnidarians contain different toxins causing cytotoxic and cytolytic effects probably due to cell membrane alterations. Mitochondria were used here as an experimental model system to characterize the action of cnidarian toxins. Toxin from the sea anemone Anemonia sulcata affects the function of rat liver mitochondria. Effects are dose- and time-dependent and they disappear when Ca2+ is absent. This toxin could therefore have a phospholipase-like action, as reported for other cnidarians. Mitochondrial alterations by cnidarian toxins could therefore be a particular case of a general mechanism of toxicity directed towards biological membranes.
