Heavy metals in the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber Latreille. II. Subcellular fractionation of metal-accumulating lysosomes from hepatopancreas.

Two populations of metal contaminated Porcellio scaber Latreille were studied: one consisting of animals that had been fed heavy metals in the laboratory for several months, and one from a metal-polluted site in the field (Braubach, FRG). Density gradient centrifugation was performed on hepatopancreas homogenates in order to identify cellular fractions and their association with lead, copper and cadmium. Marker enzymes were used for localization of cellular fractions in the density gradient. Two lysosomal fractions, called the "light" and "heavy" fraction, were separated. They contained mainly lead, but also copper and some cadmium.