title: Comparative study of the accumulation and detoxification of Cu (essential metal) and Hg (nonessential metal) in the digestive gland and gills of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis, using analytical and histochemical techniques.
abstract: The aim of the present study is the comparative examination of accumulation and detoxification of Cu and Hg in digestive gland and gills of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis, using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and autometallography. Mussels were exposed to 0.08 mg L(-1) Cu, 0.08 mg L(-1) Hg, as well as to a mixture of 0.08 mg L(-1) Hg and 0.08 mg L(-1) Cu for 11 d. After the experimental exposure, animals were kept under laboratory conditions for a detoxification period of 7d. An antagonistic effect of Cu against to Hg accumulation was noted in the digestive gland of mussels after the experimental exposure, as well as after the detoxification period, supporting the protective role of Cu against to Hg toxicity in this tissue. Digestive gland was suggested as a main organ for Hg accumulation and gills as a target position for Cu accumulation. Additionally, lower time was evaluated for Hg detoxification in the digestive gland and gills of mussels, in relation to those addressed for Cu detoxification in the same tissues. The evaluation of black silver deposits (BSD) extent performed in digestive gland and gills was suggested as a less sensitive approach, in relation to atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), to identify the concentration of heavy metals in tissues of mussels. The toxic effects of Hg, Cu and a mixture of them on lysosomal system of the digestive cells are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Raftopoulou
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Dimitriadis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005880:Gills / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006652:Histological Techniques; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D049878:Mytilus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016622:Silver Staining; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D008628:Mercury