title: Effects of water-borne copper on metallothionein and lipid peroxidation in the marine amphipod Gammarus locusta.
abstract: The aim of the current work was to determine over 10 days the effects of water-borne exposure of the marine amphipod Gammarus locusta to 4 microgCu l(-1) on the metallothionein (MT; measured by differential pulse polarography) protection system and lipid peroxidation (LP: thiobarbituric acid-reactive malondialdehyde equivalents) as a measure of oxidative damage. MT levels in exposed animals increased significantly at day 2 (36% > control; P < 0.001) and remained high at days 6 and 10 (55 and 38%, respectively, P < 0.001). The maximum level of MT at day 6 coincided with the highest Cu body-burden. LP increased within I day of exposure, indicative of Cu as an oxidative stressor. However, in contrast to MT, the highest LP level was seen at day 4 (68% > control, P < 0.001) before returning to control values by day 6, indicating a protective role of MT against the pro-oxidant effects of Cu.
authors.affiliation: IMAR-Institute of Marine Research, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, College of Sciences and Technology, Lisbon New University, Caparica, Portugal. adc@mail.fct.unl.pt
authors.forename: Ana D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Correi
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Livingstone
authors.forename: M Helena
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001822:Body Burden; D003300:Copper / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014873:Water Pollutants; D003300:Copper; D008668:Metallothionein