title: Total content and chemical speciation of arsenic in the polychaete Sabella spallanzanii.
abstract: An unusual feature has been observed in polychaetes regarding their capacity to accumulate high levels of relatively toxic forms of arsenic in specific tissues. Basal levels of arsenic and distribution of its compounds were investigated in tissues of the Mediterranean polychaete Sabella spallanzanii. Particularly high concentrations were measured in the branchial crown (1036+/-136 microg/g d.w.) and chemical speciation revealed that the predominant form was the relatively toxic dimethylarsinate (DMA). These data suggest a potential role of As as anti-predatory strategy in polychaetes.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biologia e Genetica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Ranieri Monte D'Ago, 60100 Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fattorini
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bocchetti
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bompadre
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Regoli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002101:Cacodylic Acid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D011077:Polychaeta / Q000378:metabolism*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D002101:Cacodylic Acid; D001151:Arsenic