Effects of food contaminated with cadmium and copper on hemocytes of Steatoda grossa (Araneae: Theridiidae).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic condition of Steatoda grossa (Theridiidae) spider, from their hemocytes, after a short-term (four-week) exposure to cadmium and copper in sublethal doses by administering them into the body of the preys. The ultrastructure of the dominant types of hemocytes, such as granulocytes, plasmatocytes and prohemocytes, was evaluated using transmission electron microscope (TEM). Quantitative evaluation of apoptotic and necrotic cells, as well as the ones with depolarized mitochondria in hemolymph, was performed using flow cytometry, while ATP concentration and ADP/ATP ratio in hemocytes were measured by luminescent methods.