Impact of diuron on aneuploidy and hemocyte parameters in Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas

Diuron is a substituted urea herbicide used for agricultural and nonagricultural weed control. Its widespread use and relatively slow breakdown led us to analyze its influence on aneuploidy level (lowered chromosome number in a percentage of somatic cells) and hemocyte parameters in Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas. Adult oysters were subjected to two diuron concentrations (300 ng L(-1) and 3 microg L(-1)) for 11 weeks. Significantly higher aneuploidy level was observed in diuron-treated oysters compared with the control. Furthermore, the observed impact on aneuploidy persisted to the next generation as offspring exhibited significantly higher aneuploidy levels when their parents had been exposed to diuron. Significant increases in hemocyte parameters (cell mortality, phagocytosis, granulocyte percentage, reactive oxygen species, and lysosome presence) of the adults were also observed after 4 weeks of diuron exposure. The effects observed on oyster aneuploidy level and hemocyte parameters could have serious environmental and practical consequences.