Metal concentrations (Cu, Zn and Cd) and metallothionein expression in Sparus aurata exposed to waterborne copper.
Metal concentrations in different tissues of Sparus aurata are linked to the functional role of the investigated organ: in the liver, Zn and Cu are highly concentrated, due to the detoxification and storage processes typical of the hepatic tissue. Comparison between control specimens of farmed and wild gilthead seabream resulted in significant differences in Zn and Cu concentrations between the tissue metal levels of the two populations. The cadmium levels, always less than 1 microg/g wet weight, were indicative of a low exposure to the non essential element. In Cu-exposed fish the metal was mostly accumulated in the liver and to a lesser extent in the gills in a dose-dependent manner, whereas zinc concentrations were unaffected by the metal treatment. In the liver a 1.6-fold and 4-fold increase was observed in fish exposed to 0.1 microg/mL and 0.5 microg/mL respectively; moreover, Cu exposure caused an increase of MTmRNA and CuMT. On this basis, the two molecular parameters could be considered as useful biomarkers of an early cellular response against Cu toxicity.
Isani
Gloria
G
Department of Biochemistry "G. Moruzzi", Veterinary Section, Bologna University, Bologna, Italy. isani@vet.unibo.it
Andreani
Giulia
G
Monari
Marta
M
Carpenè
Emilio
E
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D005880:Gills / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D021541:Sea Bream / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002104:Cadmium; D014867:Water; D003300:Copper; D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc