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Tissue and cellular alterations in Asian clam (Potamocorbula amurensis) from San Francisco Bay: toxicological indicators of exposure and effect?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Clark, SL; Teh, SJ; Hinton, DE
Published in: Marine environmental research
July 2000

The US Geological Survey has reported the presence of a metal contamination gradient in clam tissues, decreased condition indices, and irregular reproductive patterns have been reported in the Asian clam, Potamocorbula amurensis, from San Francisco Bay. If metals are driving the observed patterns in the field, then biomarkers of exposure, and possibly deleterious effect, should show a corresponding gradient. In this study, biomarkers from sub-cellular to tissue levels of biological organization were assessed in P. amurensis collected from the Bay or exposed to cadmium in the laboratory. Cellular and tissue alterations were assessed using histopathology and enzyme histochemistry (EH). Alterations in the ovary, testis, kidney, and gill tissues were most common at the most contaminated station when data were averaged over a 12-month sampling period. EH analysis indicated decreased active transport, energy status, and glucose oxidation in kidney and digestive gland at the most contaminated site which may indicate a decreased potential for growth. Ovarian lesions observed in feral Asian clams were experimentally induced in healthy clams by cadmium exposure in laboratory exposures. Our results suggest a contaminant etiology for tissue alterations.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Marine environmental research

DOI

EISSN

1879-0291

ISSN

0141-1136

Publication Date

July 2000

Volume

50

Issue

1-5

Start / End Page

301 / 305

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Testis
  • San Francisco
  • Ovary
  • Metals
  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • Male
  • Kidney
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Government Agencies
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Clark, S. L., Teh, S. J., & Hinton, D. E. (2000). Tissue and cellular alterations in Asian clam (Potamocorbula amurensis) from San Francisco Bay: toxicological indicators of exposure and effect? Marine Environmental Research, 50(1–5), 301–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0141-1136(00)00100-8
Clark, S. L., S. J. Teh, and D. E. Hinton. “Tissue and cellular alterations in Asian clam (Potamocorbula amurensis) from San Francisco Bay: toxicological indicators of exposure and effect?Marine Environmental Research 50, no. 1–5 (July 2000): 301–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0141-1136(00)00100-8.
Clark, S. L., et al. “Tissue and cellular alterations in Asian clam (Potamocorbula amurensis) from San Francisco Bay: toxicological indicators of exposure and effect?Marine Environmental Research, vol. 50, no. 1–5, July 2000, pp. 301–05. Epmc, doi:10.1016/s0141-1136(00)00100-8.
Journal cover image

Published In

Marine environmental research

DOI

EISSN

1879-0291

ISSN

0141-1136

Publication Date

July 2000

Volume

50

Issue

1-5

Start / End Page

301 / 305

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Testis
  • San Francisco
  • Ovary
  • Metals
  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • Male
  • Kidney
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Government Agencies