The effect of pollution on the immune system cells of mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamark, 1819) living in İzmir bay

İzmir Bay has been contaminated by different anthropogenic pollutants. As a result of this, the toxic threshold exposure level occurs, and the organisms in the bay got affected. In this study, the effects of the pollutants were examined on the mussels that have been sampled from different locations in the İzmir Bay (Göztepe, Konak Alsancak, Pasaport, Bostanlı, Karşıyaka ve Foça). Toxicity was determined on haemolymphs by biomarkers such as total haemocyte number, differential haemocyte count and micronucleus test. The microscopic examinations have shown the statistical differences at total haemocyte numbers, differential haemocyte numbers, nuclear anomalies and micronucleus frequencies. The highest total haemocyte number was determined in Bostanlı location and the lowest in Pasaport location. Also, there have been significant differences in subpopulation according to differential haemocyte numbers. The results indicate that Foça has the highest agranulocyte number while Bostanlı has the lowest agranulocyte number. As for the basophilic haemocyte number, this situation was reversed (highest number Bostanlı and lowest Foça), and Pasaport has the highest eosinophilic haemocyte number while Foça has the lowest. The highest MN, BN and NB frequencies were found in Bostanlı location and the lowest in Foça. In the cell morphhas ology observations, the changes in the location of the cell nuclei and the disappearance of cytoplasmic extensions and as a result, separation of the cells were observed. Consequently, the study has shown that biomarkers such as the total haemocyte number, differential haemocyte number and MN tests can be a useful tool for biomonitoring studies.