Cd, Cu, Zn, Se, and metallothioneins in two amphibians, Necturus maculosus (Amphibia, Caudata) and Bufo bufo (Amphibia, Anura)

Mihajl, Katarina (author), Falnoga, Ingrid (author), Tušek-Žnidarič, Magda (author), Mazej, Darja (author), Ščančar, Janez (author), Bulog, Boris (author)

The accumulation of cadmium, its affinity for metallothioneins (MTs), and its relation to copper, zinc, and selenium were investigated in the experimental mudpuppy Necturus maculosus and the common toad Bufo bufo captured in nature. Specimens of N. maculosus were exposed to waterborne Cd (85 Žg/L) for up to 40days. Exposure resulted in tissue-dependent accumulation of Cd in the order kidney, gills > intestine, liver, brain > pancreas, skin, spleen, and gonads. During the 40-day exposure, concentrations increased close to 1 Žg/g in kidneys and gills (0.64- 0.95 and 0.52-0.76; n04), whereas the levels stayed below 0.5 in liver (0.14-0.29; n04) and other organs. Cd exposure was accompanied by an increase of Zn and Cu in kidneys and Zn in skin, while a decrease of Cu was observed in muscles and skin. Cytosol metallothioneins (MTs) were detected as Cu,Zn-thioneins in liver and Zn,Cu-thioneins in gills and kidney, with the presence of Se in all cases. After exposure, Cd binding to MTs was clearly observed in cytosol of gills as Zn,Cu,Cd-thionein and in pellet extract of kidneys as Zn,Cu,Cd-thioneins. The results indicate low Cd storage in liver with almost undetectable Cd in liver MT fractions. In field trapped Bufo bufo (spring and autumn animals), Cd levels were followed in fourorgans and found to be in the order kidney > liver (0.56-5.0 Žg/g >0.03-0.72 Žg/g; n011, spring and autumn animals), with no detectable Cd in muscle and skin. At the tissue level, high positive correlations between Cd, Cu, and Se were found in liver (all r>0.80; Ž00.05, n05), and between Cd and Se in kidney (r00.76; n05) of autumn animals, possibly connected with the storage of excess elements in biologically inert forms. In the liver of springanimals, having higher tissue level of Cd than autumn ones, part of the Cd was identified as Cu,Zn,Cd-thioneins with traces of Se. As both species arespecial in having liver Cu levels higher than Zn, the observed highly preferential Cd load in kidney seems reasonable. The relatively low Cd found in liver can be attributed to its excretion through bile and its inability to displace Cu from MTs. The associations of selenium observed with Cd and/or Cu (on the tissue and cell level) point to selenium involvement in the detoxification of excessive cadmium and copper through immobilization.

• Language: English
• Keywords: amphibia, cadmium, copper, metallothionein, selenium, zinc
• Work type: Not categorized
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Year: 2012
• Number of pages: Str. 178-194
• Numbering: Vol. 150, issue 1-3
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-37605
• UDC: 577.118
• ISSN on article: 0163-4984
• DOI: 10.1007/s12011-012-9461-2
• COBISS.SI-ID: 2587727
• Publication date in RUL: 10.07.2015

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Biological trace element research
• Shortened title: Biol. trace elem. res.
• Publisher: Humana Press
• ISSN: 0163-4984
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5379847