Exposure to the neurotoxic dinoflagellate, Alexandrium catenella, induces apoptosis of the hemocytes of the oyster, Crassostrea gigas.

ABSTRACT: This study assessed the apoptotic process occurring in the hemocytes of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, exposed to Alexandrium catenella, a paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) producer. Oysters were experimentally exposed during 48 h to the toxic algae. PSTs accumulation, the expression of 12 key apoptotic-related genes, as well as the variation of the number of hemocytes in apoptosis was measured at time intervals during the experiment. Results show a significant increase of the number of hemocytes in apoptosis after 29 h of exposure. Two pro-apoptotic genes (Bax and Bax-like) implicated in the mitochondrial pathway were significantly upregulated at 21 h followed by the overexpression of two caspase executor genes (caspase-3 and caspase-7) at 29 h, suggesting that the intrinsic pathw

SUBMITTER: Medhioub W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3877888 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature