Differential sensitivity of snail embryos to cadmium: relation to age and metallothionein gene expression.
The aim of this study was to determine whether cadmium (Cd) sensitivity of Cantareus aspersus embryos is age-dependent and influenced by metallothionein (MT) gene expression. Hatching success and the expression of three MT isoform genes (Ca-CdMT, Ca-CuMT and Ca-Cd/CuMT) were measured in embryos exposed to increasing Cd concentrations for 24 h starting on the sixth day of development. Isoform gene expression was quantified on days 7 and 12 after exposure. Results were compared to those of embryos exposed to the same conditions as above, but from the beginning of embryogenesis (day 0). Transcription of the Cd-specific MT gene (Ca-CdMT) was observed from the first day of development, whereas the two other genes did not respond to Cd at all. Overall, Cd sensitivity of embryos decreased with increasing age of development, as assessed by age-dependent increase of EC50 values for hatching rate, and increasing Cd threshold concentrations for Ca-CdMT expression.
Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25000, Besançon, France.
Pierre-Emmanuel
PE
Baurand
Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
Reinhard
R
Dallinger
Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
Michael
M
Niederwanger
Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25000, Besançon, France.
Nicolas
N
Capelli
Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
Veronika
V
Pedrini-Martha
Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25000, Besançon, France. annette.devaufleury@univ-fcomte.fr.|Department of Health Safety Environment, avenue des Rives du Lac, BP179, 70003, Vesoul cedex, France. annette.devaufleury@univ-fcomte.fr.
Annette
A
de Vaufleury
D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012908:Snails / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D013997:Time Factors
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein
Cantareus aspersus; Detoxification; Early life stages; Embryotoxicity