• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.424-431
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Tributyltin chloride is among the most toxic compounds known for aquatic ecosystems. Microorganisms are responsible for removal of TBTCl. Nevertheless, only a limited number of marine bacteria were investigated for biodegradation of TBTCl in Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: The number of TBTCl resistant bacteria ranged from $2.5{\times}10^3$ to $3.8{\times}10^3$ cfu/mL in the seawater, and ranged from $3.2{\times}10^5$ to $9.1{\times}10^5$ cfu/g in the surface sediment, respectively. The morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of TBTCl resistant bacteria were investigated by API 20NE and other tests. The most abundant species of TBTCl resistant bacteria were Vibrio spp. (19.2%), Bacillus spp. (16.2%), Aeromonas spp. (15.2%), and Pseudomonas spp. (13.1%), etc. Eleven TBTCl resistant isolates also had a resistance to heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, and Zn). Among them, isolate T7 showing the strong TBTCl-resistance was selected. This isolate was identified as the genus Pantoea by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and designated as Pantoea sp. T7. In addition, this bacterium was cultivated up to the growth of 50.7% after 60 hrs at TBTCl concentration of $500{\mu}M$. TBTCl-degrading activity of Pantoea sp. T7 was measured by GC-FPD analysis. As a result of biological TBTCl-degradation at TBTCl concentration of $100{\mu}M$, TBTCl-removal efficiency of Pantoeasp. T7 was 62.7% after 40 hrs. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that Pantoea sp. T7 is potentially useful for the bioremediation of TBT contamination.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 2004

Sexually matured guppies (Poeiria reticulata) were exposed to TBTCI (0.1, 0.32, 1, 3.2, 10, 25, 32, 50, 75 and 100 $\mug/l$) for 144 hours to determine the bioaccumulation rate and effects on the reproduction and behavior. The ratio of TBT residues to $\SigmaBTs\; (TBT:\SigmaBTs)$ was 67% or higher in all the guppies exposed to TBTCl, and the higher the level of TBTCl exposed, the higher the ratio of TBT:∑BTs, suggesting that the higher the level of TBTCl exposed, the lower the metabolism rate of the fish. TBTCl exposure led to a poor reproductivity and an abnormal sexual behavior in the fish, i.e. a reduced number of the male sexual sigmoid display and of spermatophore in the efferent duct was observed in the fish exposed to 0.1 $\mug/l$ and higher levels of TBTCl, and a decreasing ratio of the testicular spermatophore cyst to the whole germ cell cysts was observed in the fish exposed to 0.32∼10 $\mug/l$)of TBTCl. The reduced ratio of the spermatophore cyst seems to be an effect of the endocrine disrupter inhibiting spermiogenesis. In the fish exposed to 25 $\mug/l$ and higher levels of TBTCl, more serious effects, such as a rapid increase of mortality, the necrosis of most of the germ cells, great damages in Sertoli cells and epithelial cells of the efferent duct, a significant increase of abnormal swimming behavior, and a cessation of feeding were observed, which suggest the acute toxicity of TBTCl inhibiting not only the reproduction and behavior but also the survival of the fish itself.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2008

This study was conducted to find out biological response of bivalves exposed to tributyltin chloride(TBTCl). The results of the study confirmed that TBTCl induce the reduction of oxygen consumption rateand histopathological feature in the gill structure of equilateral venus, Gomphina veneriformis. The experi-mental groups consisted of a control and 3 TBTCl exposure groups (0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 yg TBTCl L') and theexperimental period was 36 weeks. For histological analysis, gill tissues were fixed in Bouin's fluid andthen stained H-E stain, AB-PAS (PH 2.5) reaction and Masson's trichrome stain after having serially sec-tioned the tissue by paraffin method at thickness of 4-6 (an. The oxygen consumption rate was not signifi-cantly different between the control and exposure groups at 4 weeks, but in all exposure groups at 28 weeks,it was significantly different to the control. Gill of G. veneriformis had demibranch that attached two sheetsof lamellae and a lamella was composed of numerous filaments, numbering 25 on average. The frontal fila-ment zone had three types of cilia; frontal, latero-frontal and lateral depending on locations while the lateralcilia were the longest and largest in number. The mucous cells observed in filaments were more abundant in(542c) in AB-PAS (PH 2.5) reaction. Gill exposed to TBTCl was extended hemolymph sinus and increased hemocytes at 4 weeks, and then it showed increases of mucous cells and partially disappearance of frontalcilia. In the group of 0.8 yg TBTCl L' at 12 weeks, hypertrophy of frontal and latero-frontal epithelia wasobserved. Also it observed m decrease of mucous cell containing weekly acid mucosubstance and appearedpartially destruction muscle fiber bundle, In the groups of 0.4 and 0.6 ug TBTCl L' at 36 weeks, it appearedpartially modification of epithelia and in 0.8 us TBTCl L' group, observed filaments that come out chiti-nous rod from disappearance of frontal and latero-frontal epithelia.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.406-411
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• 2011

To investigate the effects of short-term treatment with tri-n-butyltin chloride (TBTCl) and bisphenol A (BPA) on the reproduction of striped field mice, the mice were intramuscularly injected with TBTCl or BPA immediately before the reproductive season and examined in the reproductive season after keeping them for 4 months. As a result, there were no differences between the control and the compound-treated groups regarding body weight in both sexes, the residual levels of the compounds in the adult males, and the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and the histological structures with LM and EM of the testes and epididymides in both the adult and young males. The infant mortality and abortion rate, however, were high in the TBTCl-treated groups and BPA-treated groups respectively, compared to the control group. Conclusively, it was suggested that short-term treatment with TBTCl or BPA in mice in the non-reproductive season might have inhibited the development of the uterine embryos or fetuses, although it did not induce accumulations of these compounds or affect the reproductive organs of adult and young (F1) males.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.593-600
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• 1999

The survival rates of Littorina brevicula exposed to experimental concentration regimes of TBTCl, HB and Cd on the large and the small size individuals during 80 days were $80\%$ at 0,9ppb TBTCl, 40 and $25\%$, respectively at 200ppb Hg, and 75 and $45\%$, respectively at 100ppb Cd. The growth rates of the experimental animals exposed to each concentration for 80 days was 0.023mm/day at control, 0.019mm/day at 0.1ppb and 0.014mm/day at 0.9ppb TBTCl, 0.022 mm/day at 5ppb, 0.008 mm/day at 200ppb Hg, and 0.017 mm/day at 5ppb, 0.008mm/day at 100ppb Cd. The respiration rates and excretion rates of the experimental animals exposed to chronic concentration of TBTCl, Hg and Cd were decreased until approximatively 40 days and increased after, Toxic effect of pollutants on L. brevicula was highest at TBTCl. The histological injury of L. brevicula exposed to TBTCl, Hg and Cd was shown at gill, digestive organ and muscle, respectively.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 2008

This study was conducted to find out biological responses of bivalves exposed to organotin compound.The results of the study confirmed that tribultyltin chloride (TBTCl) induce reduction of survival rate andburrowing activity, and histopathological feature in the foot structure of the equilateral venus, Gomphinaveneriformis. The experimental period was 36 weeks. The experimental groups consisted of a control and 3TBTCl exposure groups (0.4, 0.6, 0.8 ym TBTCl L'). The survival rate and burrowing activity were record-ed daily. For histological analysis, foot tissues were fixed in Bouin' s fluid and then stained H-E stain, AB-PAS (PH 2.5) reaction and Masson's trichrome stain after having serially sectioned the tissue by paraffinmethod at thickness of 4-6 ym. The survival rate was not significantly different between the control andexposure groups for 20 weeks, but in 0.8 Um TBTCl L', it was on the decreased ever since the exposure. Theburrowing activity was not significantly different in the exposure group compared to the control up to 12weeks, but in 0.6 and 0.8 ym TBTCl L', it measured the lowest level after 20 weeks. The foot is composedof the epidermal layer, connective tissue, and muscular layer. The epidermal layer is composed of simplecolumnar, cuboidal epithelia and mucous cells. The cilia were well developed on the apical surface ofepithelium, Circular, longitudinal and transverse muscle bundle were well developed in the muscular layer.The majority mucous cells showed blue color (542c) when it subjected to AB-PAS (PH 2.5) reaction. Nohistopathological alterations in the foot were observed up to 12 weeks. After 20 weeks of exposure to 0.8 (anTBTCl L'', the foot samples of exposed G. veneriformis showed disappearance of cilia and striated borderpartially and extension of hemolymph sinus. The mucous cell increased in the marginal of foot. At 28-weekof exposure to 0.4 ym TBTCl L', it observed weekly acid (564c), neutral (264c) and mixed mucous cell. At36-week of exposure to 0.6 ym TBTCl L', it showed fragmentation of the muscle and collagen fiber bundle,and also diappearance of cilia on epithelia and edema of epithelium in 0.8 ym TBTCl L''.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2011

Equilateral venus, Gomphina veneriformis exposed to tribultyltin chloride (TBTCl) for 36 weeks was showed ultrastructural changes of the mantle. The fine mantle had 4-folds and its epidermal layer consisted of simple columnar epithelial cells and ciliated cells and secretory cells. Inner and outer epidermal layer covered connective tissue. The mantle exposed to TBTCl at 12 weeks was decreased cilia in the inner epidermal layer, and observed extension of the hemolymph sinus and destruction of the septum. At 20 weeks, it revealed vacuole formation and pycnosis in the cytoplasm, and scattered muscular fiber. After 28 weeks of exposure, the mantle revealed partially degenerative changes in the epidermal layer. In the ciliated cells, basal body was isolated from the cilia and rootlet complex and basal foot were scattered. The sarcolemma had debris fiber. At 36 weeks, it observed degenerative cells that it revealed disappearance of the cilia, atrophic nucleus, poorly membrane and destruction of the cresternae in the mitochondria, and increasing heterophagosome. The outer epithelial cell had necrotic nuclus, numeous lysosome and disappearance of the microvilli. Therefore, results of this study suggested that chronical TBTCl exposure in the Gomphina veneriformis induced the disorders of shell growth and physiological function with histopathological changes of the mantle.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.63-78
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of tributyltin (TBT) on histopathological and ultrastructural changes in the digestive gland structure of the equilateral venus, Gomphina veneriformis. Experimental period was 36 weeks. Experimental groups consist of control condition and 3 TBTCl exposure conditions (0.4, 0.6, $0.8\;TBTC\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$). Outer envelop of the visceral mass of G. veneriformis exposed to TBTCl was observed disappearance of microvilli and cilia, decrease of mucous cell and partially destruction of epithelium. In the digestive gland showed an increase of number of hemocyte and mucopolysaccaride near the digestive tubule at early time of the exposure. Especially, in $0.8\;TBTC\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ group, collapse of digestive tubule with modification of epithelium was observed. TEM observation revealed the numerous glycogen granules in epithelium of the outer envelop and connective tissue. In the ciliated cell of the primary duct formed the cilia in cytoplasm. Basophilic cell was observed destruction of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Also, nucleus in the epithelium of the digestive tubule was disappeared heterochromatin and nucleolus, and condense. As the concentration of TBTCl increased, the accumulation of lipofucin increased in the digestive gland, but the collapse of digestive tubule induced a decrease of accumulation of lipofuscin.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.341-350
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• 2009

This study involves a relationship between butyltins concentrations and histopathological changes of the digestive gland in the equilateral venus, Gomphina veneriformis exposed to TBTCl of 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 ${\mu}g/L$ for 36 weeks. In the sediment, total butyltin (${\sum}BT$) concentration was detected ND~7.54 (0.4 ${\mu}g/L$), ND~9.76 (0.6 ${\mu}g/L$), 1.22~13.13 ${\mu}g/L$ (0.8 ${\mu}g/L$), respectively. Especially, TBT level in 0.8 ${\mu}g/L$ group was the highest for 36 weeks. In the soft tissue, total butyltin (${\sum}BT$) concentration of the exposure group was 10.14~12.75 (control), 479.29~1,286.56 (0.4 ${\mu}g/L$), 563.32~2,154.82 (0.6 ${\mu}g/L$) and 1,317.70~2,132.60 ${\mu}g/L$ (0.8 ${\mu}g/L$), respectively. Ratio of TBT to ${\sum}BT$ of the tissue of 0.8 ${\mu}g/L$ kept the lowest level for 36 weeks. The ${\sum}BT$ concentrations of sediment were correlated with ${\sum}BT$ concentrations in the tissue. In the exposure groups, necrosis and atrophy of columnar epithelial cell and collapse of epithelial layer in the digestive tubule. And there was a reduction in stain affinity of basophilic cell. Such histological degenerations was more severe in digestive tubule of 0.8 ${\mu}g/L$ group.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.229-241
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• 2008

Changes of growth and histopathological feature in the mantle structure of the equilateral venus, Gomphina veneriformis exposed to tribultyltin chloride (TBTCl) for 36 weeks were observed. Concentrations of TBTCl were 0, 0.4, 0.6, and $0.8{\mu}g/L$. A regression analysis by power function of SPSS was shown that the growth of experimental groups was significantly decreased after 12 weeks of exposure. For histological analysis, mantle tissues were characterized using H-E stain, AB-PAS (pH 2.5) reaction and Masson's trichrome stain, and epidermal layer thickness and mucous cell distribution were analysed using the image analyser. The mantle had 4-folds (inner-inner, inner-outer, middle, and outer) and its epidermal layer consisted of simple epithlia. A periostracum was observed in the periostracal groove between middle and outer fold. Inner epidermal layer consisted of simple ciliated columnar epithelia, but the outer epidermal layer consisted of simple non-ciliated columnar epithelia. Alcian blue positive mucous cells showed blue color (7462c, 653c) in the inner fold, violet color (2583c) in the middle fold, and blue color (647c, 7455c) in inner epidermal layer (numbers in the parenthesis are codes of Pantone process coated color). Hemolymph sinus in the mantle was extended, and mucous cells in inner plica of the middle fold were stained as blue (7455c) and violet (2587c), after 12 weeks of TBTCI exposure. Cilia and striated border were disappeared, and number of mucous cells in the inner epidermal layer was reduced. Serious histopathological changes in middle and outer fold near the periostracum were observed after 36 weeks. Moreover, epidermal layer thickness and mucous cell distribution were showed decreasing tendency as exposure time to TBTCI was increased. Results of this study suggested that TBTCl induced growth disorder with histopathological changes.