Study of the Effect of pollutants on fish defence mechanisms. I. In vitro influence of heavy metals on the spleen and kidney lymphocytes and macrophages activity in carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Abstract

Four major heavy metals involved in freshwater pollution were studied for their in vitro effects on two lymphoid cells of carp: spleen and kidney lymphocytes and macrophages. Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were studied at different concentrations on phagocytosis of Yersinia ruckeri, analyzed by chemilluminescence. Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺ have a suppressive effect at high concentration. A stimulating effect was also observed for Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ but no effect for Pb²⁺. The same concentrations were also studied on proliferative activity of lymphocytes with phytohemagglutinine-P, a total suppression was observed for Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺, a partial one for Mg²⁺ and a stimulation for Pb²⁺.