Gregory, MAGeorge, RCMarshall, DJAnandraj, AMcClurg, TP2007-01-202007-06-072007-01-202007-06-071999-01Gregory, MA, et al. 1999. The effects of mercury exposure on the surface morphology of gill filaments in Perna perna (Mollusca: Bivalvia). Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 39, 12 January, pp 116-1210025-326Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/10204/1430http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1430This study investigated the possibility that changes in the surface morphology of mussel (Perna perna) gill filaments may be used to indicate the relative toxicity of pollutants in the marine environment. Healthy, adult P. perna were collected and immersed in 2 free-flow tanks. Mercury was added to seawater as it entered tank 1 to achieve a constant level of 50 mu g/1(-1) over 24 days. Uncontaminated sea, water was circulated over the mussels in tank 2 (control) for the same period. A 25 mm (2) area of gill filament was removed from each of the 5 specimens before and after 24 days immersion in tank 2, and after immersion for 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 days in tank I. These were examined using a scanning electron microscope. The remaining soft tissues from each animal were analysed for mercury using an atomic absorption spectrometer. Mercury concentration increased from 0.13 (pre-immersion) to 87 mu g/g after day 24. Surface morphology remained normal for all animals in tank 2 and for those exposed to Hg for up to 8 days, However, from 16 to 24 days exposure there was a gradual increase in the diameters of microvilli, a depletion of abfrontal cilia, an increase in abnormal, perhaps necrotic cells and an unusual increase in the number of cilia on the lateral surfaces. These results confirm that P. perna is an efficient bio-accumulator and suggest that their gill pathomorphology mag be a useful indicator of toxicity.1676788 bytesapplication/pdfenCopyright: 1999 Pergamon-Elsevier Science LtdMusselsMercury accumulationPerna pernaScanning electron microscopySurface morphologyEnvironmental sciencesArticleGregory, M., George, R., Marshall, D., Anandraj, A., & McClurg, T. (1999). The effects of mercury exposure on the surface morphology of gill filaments in Perna perna (Mollusca: Bivalvia). http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1430Gregory, MA, RC George, DJ Marshall, A Anandraj, and TP McClurg "The effects of mercury exposure on the surface morphology of gill filaments in Perna perna (Mollusca: Bivalvia)." (1999) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1430Gregory M, George R, Marshall D, Anandraj A, McClurg T. The effects of mercury exposure on the surface morphology of gill filaments in Perna perna (Mollusca: Bivalvia). 1999; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1430.TY - Article AU - Gregory, MA AU - George, RC AU - Marshall, DJ AU - Anandraj, A AU - McClurg, TP AB - This study investigated the possibility that changes in the surface morphology of mussel (Perna perna) gill filaments may be used to indicate the relative toxicity of pollutants in the marine environment. Healthy, adult P. perna were collected and immersed in 2 free-flow tanks. Mercury was added to seawater as it entered tank 1 to achieve a constant level of 50 mu g/1(-1) over 24 days. Uncontaminated sea, water was circulated over the mussels in tank 2 (control) for the same period. A 25 mm (2) area of gill filament was removed from each of the 5 specimens before and after 24 days immersion in tank 2, and after immersion for 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 days in tank I. These were examined using a scanning electron microscope. The remaining soft tissues from each animal were analysed for mercury using an atomic absorption spectrometer. Mercury concentration increased from 0.13 (pre-immersion) to 87 mu g/g after day 24. Surface morphology remained normal for all animals in tank 2 and for those exposed to Hg for up to 8 days, However, from 16 to 24 days exposure there was a gradual increase in the diameters of microvilli, a depletion of abfrontal cilia, an increase in abnormal, perhaps necrotic cells and an unusual increase in the number of cilia on the lateral surfaces. These results confirm that P. perna is an efficient bio-accumulator and suggest that their gill pathomorphology mag be a useful indicator of toxicity. DA - 1999-01 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Mussels KW - Mercury accumulation KW - Perna perna KW - Scanning electron microscopy KW - Surface morphology KW - Environmental sciences LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 1999 SM - 0025-326X T1 - The effects of mercury exposure on the surface morphology of gill filaments in Perna perna (Mollusca: Bivalvia) TI - The effects of mercury exposure on the surface morphology of gill filaments in Perna perna (Mollusca: Bivalvia) UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1430 ER -