Immunological responses in haemolymph and histologic changes in the hepatopancreas of Charybdis japonica (A. Milne-Edwards, 1861) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunidae) exposed to bisphenol A

Abstract

Immunity-related indicators in the haemolymph and hepatopancreas were studied to investigate the toxic effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on the crabs Charybdis japonica (A. Milne-Edwards, 1861). These included total hemocyte counts (THC), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), lysozyme (LSZ), phenoloxidase (PO), and the histological structure of the hepatopancreas. The results showed that THC declined at first and then gradually increased after exposure to different concentrations of BPA, and the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, LSZ, and PO increased at first and then decreased. MDA, however, gradually increased over time following the exposure. The rough endoplasmic reticulum of hepatopancreas cells appeared swollen and reduced in number. Simultaneously, vacuoles, lysosomes, and myeloid bodies (MD) were observed in the hepatopancreas cells. These results indicate that BPA can affect the activities of immunity-related enzymes as well the histological structure of the hepatopancreas, which may be used as biomarkers of BPA in contaminated aquatic ecosystems.