title: A baseline study of the metallothioneins induction and its reversibility in Neohelice granulata from the Bahía Blanca Estuary (Argentina).
abstract: Contamination by heavy metals causes serious effects in marine systems. Nowadays, the combination of chemical and biological data is recommended in monitoring programs. Metallothioneins (MT) are early-warning signals of metal exposure and are widely used in biomonitoring. The present research evaluates the heavy metals levels in sediments and the MT synthesis in the crab Neohelice granulata from the Bahía Blanca Estuary (BBE). Then, the recovery capabilities of N. granulata followed by a depuration phase are assessed. Results demonstrate a slow decline in the level of metals in the study area. In relation to MT, female crabs showed elevated MT when compared to males. Furthermore, MT synthesis diminished after the depuration phase. These data constitute the first MT information in organisms from the BBE and may be considered as baseline for future studies in this matter. Although pollution level found was low, further biomonitoring considering both types of data is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO - CONICET-CCT Bahía Blanca), Camino La Carrindanga Km7, Edificio E1, C.C. 804, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina. Electronic address: nbuzzi@criba.edu.ar.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Buzzi
authors.affiliation: Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO - CONICET-CCT Bahía Blanca), Camino La Carrindanga Km7, Edificio E1, C.C. 804, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Universidad Tecnológica Nacional - FRBB, 11 de Abril 445, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Universidad FASTA, Gascón 3151, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina. Electronic address: jorgemar@iado-conicet.gob.ar.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Marcovecchio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D003386:Brachyura / Q000187:drug effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D063366:Estuaries; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D014876:Water Pollution
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008668:Metallothionein
keywords: Depuration; Heavy metals; Metallothioneins; Neohelice granulata; Sediments