Metallothionein concentrations in natural populations of gudgeon (Gobio gobio): relationship with metal concentrations in tissues and environment.
A field monitoring campaign investigating the suitability of (Cd, Zn)-metallothionein concentrations (MTs) in different tissues of the gudgeon as a biomarker for metal contamination in the aquatic environment was conducted. Gudgeons were captured at 10 sampling sites on a river system in Flanders (Belgium). Nine sampling sites were situated along a Cd and Zn gradient with a nearby tributary as the reference site. Cadmium, Cu, and Zn concentrations were measured in the water and sediments. Concentrations of (Cd, Zn)-MT were measured in different organs (gill, liver, kidney) of gudgeon (Gobio gobio). The hepatic and gill Cd and Zn concentrations, as well as the hepatic (Cd, Zn)-MT concentrations, reflected the polymetallic contamination gradient. Moreover, the hepatic Cd and Zn concentrations could describe 72% of the variance in the (Cd, Zn)-MT concentrations in the liver, illustrating the possible use of hepatic MT concentrations as a biomarker for environmental metal contamination. In this way a dose-response relationship could be established under natural conditions. However, a poor negative relation between the Cd and Zn concentrations in the gills and the corresponding (Cd, Zn)-MT concentrations was found. No relation between the Cd and Zn concentrations in the kidney tissue and the corresponding (Cd, Zn)-MT concentrations could be established. These results clearly illustrate the tissue-specificity of the MT concentrations, thus for monitoring purposes MT concentrations should be measured in liver tissues, rather than in kidney or gill tissues.
Van Campenhout
Karen
K
Laboratory for Ecophysiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp (RUCA), Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium. karen.vancampenhout@ua.ac.be
Bervoets
Lieven
L
Blust
Ronny
R
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003530:Cyprinidae; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005880:Gills / Q000737:chemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D015415:Biomarkers; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc