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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 495

J.D. Popham and J.M. Webster; Ultrastructural changes in Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematoda) caused by toxic levels of marcury and silver. Ecotoxicol. & Environ.Safety 6:183-189, 1982

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Mercury toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans showed as lesions in esophageal muscles and intestinal cells and consisted of degradation of the cytoplasm and the formation of irregularly shaped cytosomes. Specimens intoxicated with silver showed changed cytosomes with a spongy matrix in the intestinal cells and ruffled membranes on the mitochondria of hypodermal cells. General ultrastructural responses reflecting a distress syndrome common to several heavy metals were also noted. The results are discussed with reference to the concept of using free-living nematodes to assist in the diagnosis of the causative toxic heavy metal in a complex.