Naslov
Is the digestive gland of Mytilus galloprovincialis a tissue of choice for estimating cadmium exposure by means of metallothioneins?

Autori
Raspor, Biserka ; Dragun, Zrinka ; Erk, Marijana ; Ivanković, Dušica ; Pavičić, Jasenka

Izvornik
Science of the total environment (0048-9697) 333 (2004), 1-3; 99-108

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
caged bivalves; Mytilus galloprovincialis; digestive gland mass variation; tissue content of metallothioneins and trace metals

Sažetak
A study performed over 12 months with caged mussels M. galloprovincialis in the coastal marine zone which is under the urban pressure, reveales a temporal variation of digestive gland mass which causes "biological dilution" of cytosolic metallothionein (MT) and trace metal (Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn) concentrations. The dilution effect was corrected by expressing the cytosolic MT and metal concentrations as the tissue content. Consequently, the changes of the average digestive gland mass coincide with the changes of MT and trace metal contents. In the period from February to June, MT contents are nearly twice and trace metal contents nearly three times higher than the remaining months. The period of increased average digestive gland mass, of MT and trace metal contents is probably overlapping with the sexual maturation of mussels (gametogenesis) and the enhanced food availability. Due to the fact that natural factors contribute more to the MT content than the sublethal levels of Cd, digestive gland of M. galloprovincialis is not considered as a tissue of choice for estimating Cd exposure by means of MTs.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

POVEZANOST RADA