title: Effects of copper and cadmium on development and superoxide dismutase levels in horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) embryos.
abstract: Pollution by metals may adversely affect organisms through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we examined the sublethal effects of two metals, copper and cadmium, on horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) embryos. Exposure to copper or cadmium at concentrations of 0.01-10 mg/L for periods of 4, 8, 16 and 24 h had minimal effect on embryo survival except at 100 mg/L Cu. However, metal-exposed embryos took significantly longer to hatch into first instar ("trilobite") larvae than seawater controls. Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), believed to be important in the response to oxidative stress, were determined by Western blotting. Both the Cu/Zn and Mn cofactor forms of SOD tended to be somewhat elevated in metal-exposed embryos, but the increases were neither dose nor time-dependent. Likewise, SOD enzymatic activity showed no significant differences comparing embryos exposed to metals with seawater controls. We conclude that the protective role of SOD's against ROS produced in response to metal exposure appears to be limited in horseshoe crab embryos, at least under our experimental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Fordham University, 113 West 60th Street, New York, NY 10023 USA.
authors.forename: Mary G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Fordham University, 113 West 60th Street, New York, NY 10023 USA ; New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Northern Boulevard, P.O. Box 8000, Old Westbury, NY 11568 USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Fordham University, 113 West 60th Street, New York, NY 10023 USA ; School of Health Sciences, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mount Carmel Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518 USA.
authors.forename: Mia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malin
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Fordham University, 113 West 60th Street, New York, NY 10023 USA ; Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461 USA.
authors.forename: Lucas R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Cusumano
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Fordham University, 113 West 60th Street, New York, NY 10023 USA.
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Botton
keywords: Cadmium; Copper; Horseshoe crab; Limulus; Oxidative stress; Pollution; SOD