Ref ID : 6069
Erno Fischer and Laszlo Molnar; Environmental aspects of the chloragogenous tissue of earthworms. Soil Biol.Biochem. 24(12):1723-1727, 1992
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Environmental factors affecting the chloragogenous tissue of the manure worm, Eisenia fetida and other oligochaetes were surveyed. Chloragocytes might be affected -detectable by karyometric methods- by hydration, desiccation, cold stress, hypoxia, saline load, or by diverse xenobiotics. Chloragocyte depletion may be stimulated by some pesticides. Paraquat toxication can cause an almost full depletion of the chloragogenous tissue as we observed, followed in survivors by a renewal of this tissue. Experimental cold stress induced a marked increase of the Carnoy-insoluble pigmentation of the chloragosomes in juvenile worms. Moderate accumulation of such pigments could be observed on the effect of saline load. The elemental composition of chloragosomes might be markedly influenced by some environmental factors, including heavy metals. Experimentally-induced alterations of the chloragogenous tissue may contribute to the adaptation of the earthworms to variable conditions of their environments.