Invertebrate Immunity

Over a one year period, seasonal variations in§aspects of Mytilus §edulis L. immune function, namely, total and§differential blood cell §counts, phagocytic capability and intracellular§superoxide §generation, were investigated. These immune§parameters were §found to be significantly affected by seasonal§variations with §special reference to M. edulis reproductive cycle.§A concomitant population genetics study, using§electrophoresis at §9 allozyme loci, was carried out on the monthly§samples of M. §edulis used for the immunocompetence assays. Significant §temporal genetic variations were observed. When§comparing the §level of heterozygosity at the 9 allozyme loci§surveyed with the §aspects of immunity studied, one association could be §demonstrated between heterozygosity and the character of §circulating haemocytes.§The effects of short-term (14 day) and long-term (40§day) in §vivo exposures to the reference toxicant sodium §pentachlorophenol (NaPCP), on aspects of M. edulis immune§function (using the same immune parameters as for the§seasonal §variations study) were also investigated. Results§showed that §NaPCP had a toxic effect on the immune responses§surveyed.