Adam Bownik

The influence of microcystin-LR on fish phagocytic cells

The in vitro influence of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on rainbow trout phagocytic cell functions was studied. The cells isolated from the fish blood were exposed on MC-LR at the concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 20 μg/mL. The viability of the cells after 2, 4 and 24 hour incubation with MC-LR was studied as well as phagocytic cell ability measured as zymozan particle phagocytosis and metabolic activity measured as respiratory burst activity. The toxin caused time- and dose-dependent viability decrease, the strongest after cell exposure on 10 and 20 μg/mL and observed only after 24 hours incubation when 1 μg/mL was applied. The phagocytic ability was elevated in the presence of MC-LR at the dose of 5 μg/mL. MC-LR had also modulatory influence on respiratory burst activity. While the two lower doses caused the stimulation of the parameter, the two higher ones diminished superoxide anion production in the triggered cells. The results show the potency of the toxin to influence the fish phagocytic cell functions. Human & Experimental Toxicology (2007) 26: 603—607.

Effects of pesticides on the acute phase proteins in fishes: an experimental study

Abstract The acute phase response is a nonspecific reaction of fish to disturbances in homeostasis. The acute phase proteins (APPs) are mainly glycoproteins released by hepatocytes following specific stimulation by the cytokines. The function of APP is to modulate an immune response. We have recently isolated several different APPs from fishes including ceruloplasmine (Cp), fibrinogen (Fg), serum amyloid A and C-reactive protein (CRP). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different pesticides on the APP responses in fishes and to investigate the utility of applying APP measurements for monitoring of aquatic environmental contamination. We analyzed the kinetics of different APP levels after intoxication. Cp and CRP exhibited a three- to five-fold elevation following intoxication suggesting that APP may be sensitive and highly effective biomarkers.