THE EFFECT OF SHORT-TERM SALINITY CHANGES ON THE FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OF MEDITERRANEAN MUSSEL HEMOCYTES

In this work, using the methods of flow cytometry and laser diffraction, the analysis of the functional state of hemocytes (osmotic fragility, the ratio of cell types in the hemolymph, the ability to produce ROS) was carried out of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819), acclimatized to low (6 ‰, 10 ‰, 14 ‰) and high salinity (24%, 30 %). Acclimation to different salinity led to a multidirectional change in the cellular composition of the hemolymph of mussels, the most pronounced effect was observed at low salinity. At the same time, both in conditions of low and high salinity, an increase in the intracellular concentration of ROS in hemocytes was noted, which may indicate the development of oxidative stress. In addition, with all changes in salinity, a shift in the osmotic fragility curve was recorded. The results of this work showed that the Mediterranean mussel has a pronounced tolerance to short-term (48 h) fluctuations in salinity, while the decrease in salinity was accompanied by more pronounced functional changes. In turn, the shift in the osmotic resistance curve indicates the involvement of cellular mechanisms of osmoregulation in Mediterranean mussels in adapting to short-term changes in salinity.