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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

A Toxicological and Ecotoxicological Assay Based on Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) Hemocytes Motility
Published on: December 13, 2024
Algal toxin yessotoxin signalling pathways involve immunocyte mussel calcium channels
Davide Malagoli1, Livio Casarini, Enzo Ottaviani
1Department of Animal Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 213/D, 41100 Modena, Italy.
Abstract:
A fragment of a putative L-type Ca(2+) channel has been identified by molecular biology experiments in immunocytes from the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Using the cell permeable and Ca(2+)-specific fluorochrome FURA 2-AM, we have demonstrated that the algal toxin yessotoxin (YTX) is able to increase intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in M. galloprovincialis immunocytes. The YTX effect on Ca(2+) increase is inhibited by the L-type Ca(2+) channel inhibitor, verapamil, which is cAMP- and cGMP-dependent, but PKA- and nitric oxide-independent. On the basis of these observations, a possible role for YTX as a potential disturber of mussel immune efficiency is suggested.
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