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Fish thymocyte viability, apoptosis and necrosis: In-vitro effects of organochlorine contaminants

Fish and Shellfish Immunology
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.1006/fsim.1997.0126

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Abstract

The thymus is believed to be a central component of haematopoiesis and immune function in teleosts. Hence, chemically-elicited adverse effects to the thymus may result in immunomodulation and organ dysfunction. The objective of this research was to assess the levels of active (apoptotic) and passive (necrotic) cell death in untreated and organochlorine treated fish thymocytes. Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) thymocytes were challenged with Aroclor 1254 (concentration range 1·5–10·5 μg ml−1) and alpha, beta, gamma, delta isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (concentration range 10–100 μM). The resulting maintenance or loss of viability was assessed by cytofluorometry (expression of phosphatidylserine and exclusion of propidium iodide) and confirmed with fluorescence microscopy. The results indicate that 20–60% of thymocytes in healthy fish undergo apoptosis, whereas thymocytes treated for 6–24 h with organochlorines exhibit increased levels of apoptotic cell death. This study demonstrates that given sufficient concentration, contact time and cellular receptors, organochlorines such as Aroclor 1254 and hexachloro-cyclohexanes may induce direct or indirect toxicity, altered functionality, or cell death to an organ important for fish immunocompetence.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Fish thymocyte viability, apoptosis and necrosis: In-vitro effects of organochlorine contaminants
Series title Fish and Shellfish Immunology
DOI 10.1006/fsim.1997.0126
Volume 8
Issue 2
Year Published 1998
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Great Lakes Science Center
Description 14 p.
First page 77
Last page 90
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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