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Metallothionein (MT) and cellular energy allocation (CEA) in the estuarine mysid shrimp Neomysis integer exposed to a constant free cadmium ion concentration at different salinities

Biomarkers can be useful to assess the exposure and/or effects of environmental contaminants. In this study euryhaline crustacean Neomysis integer was exposed to the same sub-lethal concentration of Cd^2+_(aq) in hypo-osmotic (5 psu), isosmotic (16 psu) and hyper-osmotic media (25 psu) for 7 days. As such, potential differences in Cd accumulation and induction of MTs in N. integer at different salinities were caused by physiological mechanisms only. CEA provided an insight in energy status of N. integer at different salinities. No significant differences in MT levels between the control and Cd-exposed groups were reported. The measured MT levels probably represent the constitutive MT levels responsible for binding of essential metals. The differences in MT levels observed at the different salinities indicate the relationship between physiological process(es) other than detoxification and the MT induction. A decrease in salinity caused an increase in MT level in N. integer, and this was significantly correlated to the CEA values (Spearman R = -0.56, p = 0.016). Environmental factors such as salinity can change the energy status and MT content of N. integer and this should be taken into account when using MT as a biomarker of metal exposure in field studies.

Neomysis integer; cadmium; metallothionein; cellular energy allocation

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