Metallothionein as potential biomarker of cadmium exposure in Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus).
Metallothionein (MT) concentration in gills, liver, and kidney tissues of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) were determined following exposure to sublethal levels of waterborne cadmium (Cd) (50, 400, and 1,000 μg l(-1)) after 1, 2, 4, and 14 days. The increases of MT from background levels were 4.6-, 3-, and 2.8-fold for kidney, liver, and gills, respectively. The results showed that MT level change in the kidney is time and concentration dependent. Also, cortisol measurement revealed elevation at the day 1 of exposure and followed by MT increase in the liver. Cd concentrations in the cytosol of experimental tissues were measured, and the results indicated that Cd levels in the cytosol of liver, kidney, and gills increased 240.71-, 32.05-, and 40.16-fold, respectively, 14 days after exposure to 1,000 μg l(-1) Cd. The accumulation of Cd in cytosol of tissues is in the order of liver > gills > kidney. Pearson correlation coefficients showed that the MT content in kidney is correlated with Cd concentration, the value of which is more than in liver and gills. Thus, kidney can be considered as a tissue indicator in A. persicus for waterborne Cd contamination.
Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. shariati@liau.ac.ir
Fatemeh
F
Shariati
Abbas
A
Esaili Sari
Ali
A
Mashinchian
Mohammad
M
Pourkazemi
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D005880:Gills / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein