Cadmium Accumulation and Pathological Alterations in the Midgut Gland of Terrestrial Snail Helix pomatia L. from a Zinc Smelter Area: Role of Soil pH

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether cadmium (Cd) accumulation and toxicity in the midgut gland of Helix pomatia snails living in a Cd-contaminated area were related to soil pH. Toxic responses in the midgut gland (i.e., increased vacuolization and lipid peroxidation) occurred in H. pomatia snails exhibiting the highest Cd levels in the gland (265–274 µg/g dry wt) and living on acidic soil (pH 5.3–5.5), while no toxicity was observed in snails accumulating less Cd (90 µg/g) and ranging on neutral soil (pH 7.0), despite the fact that total soil Cd was similar in the two cases. The accumulation of Cd in the gland was directly related to the water extractable Cd in soil, which in turn correlated inversely with soil pH, indicating that this factor had a significant effect on tissue Cd. It appeared further that the occurrence of Cd toxicity was associated with low levels of metallothionein in the gland of snails ranging on acidic soil.

Tissue Trace Elements and Lipid Peroxidation in Breeding Female Bank Voles Myodes glareolus

“…Metal determinations were performed as described recently in Włostowski et al [ 20 ]. The homogenate (0.6 ml) was digested at 200 °C for 40 min in a mixture of redistilled nitric acid (70%) (Sigma-Aldrich) (2.5 ml), 30% H 2 O 2 (Sigma-Aldrich) (0.25 ml), and deionized water (1.65 ml), using a Mars 6 microwave oven (CEM Corporation, Matthews, NC, USA).…”

Influence of soil contaminated with cadmium on cell death in the digestive epithelium of soil centipedeLithobius forficatus(Myriapoda, Chilopoda)

“…It can be caused by activation of numerous mechanisms that protect cells and neutralize the toxic substances. Therefore, some of cellular defence tools against cadmium could be involved, e.g., metallothioneins, superoxide dismutase (Włostowski et al 2014(Włostowski et al , 2016Polykretis et al 2019). Additionally, Cd-induced oxidative stress causes the activation of autophagy and/or apoptosis (Hödl et al 2010;Sheir et al 2013;Liu et al 2016;Włostowski et al 2016;So et al 2018;Mugnano et al 2018).…”

“…Therefore, some of cellular defence tools against cadmium could be involved, e.g., metallothioneins, superoxide dismutase (Włostowski et al 2014(Włostowski et al , 2016Polykretis et al 2019). Additionally, Cd-induced oxidative stress causes the activation of autophagy and/or apoptosis (Hödl et al 2010;Sheir et al 2013;Liu et al 2016;Włostowski et al 2016;So et al 2018;Mugnano et al 2018). Studies on the L. forficatus and changes in its midgut epithelium in animals living in metalcontaminated soils originate from the studies of Vandenbulcke et al (1998a).…”

Trifolium repens-Associated Bacteria as a Potential Tool to Facilitate Phytostabilization of Zinc and Lead Polluted Waste Heaps

“…Heavy metal content in the Bolesław, Bukowno, and Saturn upper layer of metalliferous and reference soil as well as in plant tissues were measured in five sample replicates. To determine total Zn, Pb, and Cd concentrations in soil samples, 0.2 g of soil matrix, previously passed through a 1 mm sieve, was extracted for 15 min with 70% nitric acid (4.5 mL) and hydrofluoric acid (1.5 mL) at 180 • C (Method 3052, US EPA 1996) in a Mars 6 microwave oven (CEM Corporation, Matthews, NC, USA), whereas to measure the metal concentrations in white clover roots and leaves, tissues were treated with concentrated nitric acid (2.5 mL) and 250 µL hydrogen peroxide solution (30% w/w in H 2 O) diluted in 2.250 mL double deionized water at 150 • C (Method Plant Material, US EPA 1996) in the above mentioned microwave oven [47]. Metal analysis of these solutions was carried out by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), using the Thermo iCE 3400 instrument with Zeeman correction (Thermo Electron Manufacturing Ltd., Cambridge, UK).…”