title: Maternal cadmium exposure induces mt2 and smtB mRNA expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio) females and their offspring.
abstract: The present study aimed to identify the effects of maternal cadmium (Cd(2+)) exposure on the mRNA expression of mt2 (metallothionein-2) and smtB (similar to metallothionein-B) in female zebrafish (Danio rerio) and their offspring (F1 larvae). Zebrafish females were exposed to 0, 8.9, 17.8, and 35.6 μM Cd(2+) for 72 h, and their ovaries and F1 larvae were collected to measure their Cd(2+) contents and their smtB and mt2 mRNA expression. Cd(2+) contents and the mRNA expression of smtB and mt2 in F1 larvae all showed positive correlations with the maternal Cd(2+) treatment dose. The mt2 was 1.9- to 3.4-fold higher than smtB in F1 larvae. Furthermore, F1 larvae had noticeably enhanced Cd(2+) tolerance after maternal Cd(2+) treatment. These results demonstrate that maternal Cd(2+) was transferred to larval fish and induced mt2 and smtB mRNA expression to protect larva against the impacts of Cd(2+). In female ovaries, mt2 expression showed a noticeable increase after exposure to a metal environment, while smtB did not show exactly the same effect. The study can only conclude that smtB might have a much different role other than just protecting against the impacts of metals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Biosciences of National Chiayi University, Taiwan, ROC. sumei@mail.ncyu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Su Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Pei Ru
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Cia Jiung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein