Linkages between cellular biomarker responses and reproductive success in oysters – Crassostrea virginica

The purpose of these studies was to evaluate if there were relationships between lysosomal destabilization or glutathione concentrations and gamete viability of oysters, Crassostrea virginica. Oysters were collected from field sites during the peak spawning period (May–June) during 2001 and 2002. Lysosomal destabilization rates and glutathione concentrations of hepatopancreas tissues (e.g. digestive gland) were determined. Eggs and sperm from the same adults were also used to conduct embryo development assays with reference seawater collected from a clean site, site water, and also a range of Cd concentrations (the Cd exposures were used to determine if there were differences in susceptibility to pollutants). Baseline embryo development success (e.g. percent normal development when the assays were conducted with reference seawater or site water) was related to lysosomal destabilization, but not glutathione status. However, the susceptibility of embryos to metal toxicity was related to glutathione status, i.e., sensitivity to Cd exposures increased with decreasing glutathione levels. These studies support the hypotheses that there are linkages between embryo development success and susceptibility to pollutant stress and cellular biomarker responses. These kinds of effects on reproductive success could lead to subtle but significant long-term effects on recruitment and viability of oyster populations.