engleski

Metallothinein in intestine of red mullet, Mullus barbatus as a biomarker of copper exposure in the coastal marine areas

Dietary metal exposure in fish is studied in native red mullet, Mullus barbatus, involving metallothionein (MT) response in intestine, as primary site of metal uptake. Intestinal MT (μ g mg-1 proteins), total proteins (mg ml-1 S50), Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cd (μ g ml-1 S50) are considered as indicators of metal exposure in specimens from near-shore and off-shore locations of the Eastern Adriatic Sea. Metallothionein and Cu are statistically significantly higher in 68 specimens from the Kaštela Bay (30.0± ; ; ; 6.71 μ g MT mg-1 proteins ; 0.30± ; ; ; 0.08 μ g Cu ml-1 S50), near-shore area, in comparison to 51 specimens from off-shore area, Šolta Island (25.9± ; ; ; 4.21 μ g MT mg-1 proteins ; 0.26± ; ; ; 0.09 μ g Cu ml-1 S50). Cytosolic Cu, as MT inducer, is significantly correlated (p<0.05, r=0.44) with MT, without dependence on fish biometry. Thus, in our study cytosolic intestinal Cu and MT levels are regarded as measurable biochemical responses in red mullet specimens, dwelling above sediments contaminated with Cu.

intestine ; metallothioneins ; cytosolic metals ; Mullus barbatus ; Adriatic Sea

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