Abstract
The marine diatomSkeletonema costatum (Greville) Cleve was grown in batch culture in the presence of mercury (6.5 μg 1−1), cadmium (50 μg 1−1) and zinc (265 μg 1−1). Alterations in cytoplasmic morphology were observed in cells treated with these sublethal concentrations of the metals. Swollen organelles, dilated membranes and vacuolated cytoplasm indicated plasma membrane damage and subsequent osmotic disorganization. Electron-dense inclusions in vesicles, multivesiculate bodies and cytoplasmic “tubules” apparently derived from the Golgi body are interpreted as mechanisms of sequestering the metals. Mercury and zinc had a marked effect on the fine structure whereas treatment with cadium resulted in little to no cytoplasmic damage.
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