Ammonia nitrogen exposure caused structural damages to gill mitochondria of clam Ruditapes philippinarum

Ammonia nitrogen has been one of the key pollution indicators along Chinese coastline for quite a few years. Our previous studies have proved that ammonia is harmful Ruditapes philippinarum clam in several aspects. Environmental concentrations were found to significantly decrease ATP contents and disturb metabolism, addition reducing potential across mitochondrial membrane gill tissues. Accordingly, mitochondrion considered as target organelles toxicity clams. However, there lack direct evidence prove it. In order reveal detail information on mitochondria screen related biomarker indicate pollution, parameters tissues including swelling, mtDNA copy number marker enzyme (succinic dehydrogenase, SDH) activity measured after clams exposed 0.1 mg/L 0.5 3 days 21 days, respectively. Moreover, adverse effects exposure ultra-structures, swelling division also discriminated under transmission electron microscope (TEM). Final results showed both induced reduced messed their normal structure, decreased copies down-regulated SDH activity, all concentration duration dependent manner. So, present study helps us better understand structural damage cells provides fundamental data control aquaculture.