Biochemical indices of stress in the sandworm Neanthes virens (Sars).

This study was designed to assess the feasibility of using certain biochemical parameters as indices of stress in marine invertebrates. Sandworms Neanthes (=Nereis) virens (Sars) were subjected to various types and degrees of pollutants and environmental stress. Descriptive information and measurements of coelomic fluid glucose, osmolality and pH, tissue glycogen and ascorbic acid were obtained during time-course experiments. Acute responses to pentachlorophenol (PCP) and cadmium (Cd) varied considerably depending on the exposure concentration. In some instances transient hyperglycemic responses and a reduction in glycogen reserves were observed during acute exposure to these pollutants. A significant hyperglycemic response was also observed during the first month of exposure to 10 mg/l of Cd but not during the long-term PCP experiment. At the termination of the long-term (two month) exposures to PCP and Cd, Glycopgen reserves of exposed animals were significantly depleted but ascorbic acid levels were above control values. Acclimation to hyperthermal temperatures did not significantly alter the biochemical parameters, but acclimation to reduced salinities (15 and 5 %.) tended to dilute the extracellular constituents in a salinity-dependent fashion. Desiccation and exposure to ammonia produced a hypoglycemic response; a significant glycogen depletion was also observed after a one week exposure to 23 mg/l NH3. A preliminary study of N. virens collected from three different sites in Maine, showed that significant difference in these biochemical parameters exist among different field populations. It was concluded that the parameters concerned with bioenergetics (growth and reproduction) appear to be more responsive to detrimental influences than were parameters involving homeostatic mechanisms in N. virens, and that these indices could conceivably be used to evaluate the fitness of populations in the field.