Effects of heavy metals on phagocytosis by Molluscan hemocytes

Abstract

Abstract The effects of ten heavy metal cations on phagocytosis of polystyrene latex spheres by hemocytes of the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica , were investigated. Exposure to 1 and 5 ppm Cd 2+ , 5 ppm Co 2+ , 1 ppm Cr 3+ , 1 ppm Cu 2+ , 0·5 ppm Fe 3+ , 0·05 ppm Hg 2+ , 1 and 5 ppm Mn 2+ , 1 and 5 ppm Pb 2+ , 1 ppm Sn 2+ , and 1 and 5 ppm Zn 2+ resulted in no alteration of phagocytic ability. However, exposure to 1 ppm Co 2+ , 5 ppm Cu 3+ , 5 ppm Cu 2+ , 1 and 5 ppm Fe 3+ , 0·1 ppm Hg 2+ and 5 ppm Sn 2+ resulted in significantly enhanced uptake of polystyrene spheres. Finally, exposure to 0·5, 1 and 5 ppm Hg 2+ resulted in inhibition of phagocytosis and increased cell death.