Apoptosis, cell proliferation and serotonin immunoreactivity in gut of Liza aurata from natural heavy metal polluted environments: preliminary observations

Abstract

In the present paper, the effect of natural environment nonlethal heavy metal concentration on cell renewal of Liza aurata intestinal epithelium, was studied by the TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling) method and anti-PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) immunohistochemistry, in order to detect, respectively, apoptosis and cell proliferation. In addition, the presence and distribution of the cell renewal regulator, serotonin, was immunohistochemically investigated. In order to reduce variability, only immature specimens were considered. The results indicated that in the control specimens from non-polluted areas, the PCNA immunoreactive nuclei of the proximal intestinal epithelium were only located at the bottom of the intestinal folds, together with a few TUNEL-positive nuclei, and goblet mucous differentiated cells. In the specimens from polluted areas, the number of PCNA immunoreactive cells was greatly enhanced, and they extended along the mid portion of the intestinal folds; the number of TUNEL-positive nuclei was enhanced as well, but they were almost exclusively detected in the third apical portion of the intestinal folds. Serotonin immunoreactive nerve elements were more frequently detected in the intestinal wall of L. aurata specimens from polluted areas, and besides that, some serotonin immunoreactive endocrine cells were also present. Variations in distribution and frequency of TUNEL-positive nuclei, PCNA immunoreactive nuclei, and serotonin immunoreactivity put in evidence an alteration of cell renewal with an enhancement of cell proliferation, probably leading to morphological intestinal fold changes

Cell proliferation and apoptosis in the olfactory epithelium of the shark Scyliorhinus canicula

“…The immunopositivities to the two antisera were equivalent; moreover, Western blot analysis on the olfactory organs of S. canicula showed a band with a molecular weight consistent with that of PCNA. The immunodetection of PCNA was previously performed, with good results, on fish (e.g., Bettini et al, 2006Bettini et al, , 2009Ferrando et al, 2005), including specifically elasmobranch (Borucinska et al, 2008;Ferreiro-Galve et al, 2010).…”

Effects of Potentilla Fulgens as Prophylactic Agent in Intestinal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

“…Immunohistochemistry with PCNA antibody and the TUNEL method have been widely used in fish species to demonstrate the renewal of enterocytes in studies ranging from experimental diet to environmental and toxicological assessments (Ferrando et al, 2005;Pohlenz et al, 2012). Table II.…”

Proliferation, apoptosis, and fractal dimension analysis for the quantification of intestinal trophism in sole (Solea solea) fed mussel meal diets

“…Immunohistochemistry with PCNA antibody and the TUNEL method have been widely used in fish species to demonstrate the renewal of enterocytes in studies ranging from experimental diet to environmental and toxicological assessments [13-21]. Focusing on the TUNEL method for apoptosis assessment, it has been widely demonstrated that it can produce an intrinsic nonspecific labelling.…”

“…On the other hand, apoptotic index was not influenced by the diet, probably because dietetic changes were not sufficient to induce a pro-apoptotic response compared with xenobiotics or hormonal stimuli [13,14]. …”