Naslov
Morphological features and comet assay of green and brown hydra treated with aluminium

Autori
Kovačević, Goran ; Želježić, Davor ; Horvatin, Karlo ; Kalafatić, Mirjana

Izvornik
Symbiosis (0334-5114) 44 (2007), 1-3; 145-152

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
aluminum ; brown hydra ; comet assay ; DNA damage ; green hydra ; morphological changes ; symbiosis

Sažetak
Hydras are simple aquatic organisms, members of the phylum Cnidaria. Green hydra (Hydra viridissima Pallas) is endosymbiotic and brown hydra (Hydra oligactis Pallas) is a non-symbiotic species. Aluminium is one of the most abundant elements in the Earth's crust, but its effects upon living organisms have not been much studied until recently. The aim of this research was to explore the potential environmental effects of aluminium ions by studying aluminium-induced changes in two closely related hydra species, and to trace the extent damage caused. For the first time, a modified alkaline comet assay was used to study primary DNA damage in green and brown hydra cells. Aluminium toxicity triggered mortality, morphological, behavioral and DNA changes. DNA tail length and intensity changes were greater in brown than in green hydras, but behavioral responses to the presence of aluminium ions were observed more rapidly in green hydra. The toxicity also affected reproduction. Brown hydra was more susceptible to aluminium than green hydra, confirming the evolutionary advantage provided by symbiosis. Biomonitoring protocols using hydra and the comet assay could be developed to provide a valuable and rapid method for determining the quality of freshwater.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

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