Metal Accumulation and Binding Protein Induction in Mytilus galloprovincialis , Scapharca inaequivalvis , and Tapes philippinarum from the Lagoon of Venice

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution is known to be widespread in the sediments of the Lagoon of Venice. Therefore, physiological parameters influenced by this form of contamination were examined. The bivalve molluscs blue mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), ark clam (Scapharca inaequivalvis), and Japanese littleneck (Tapes philippinarum) were sampled in two sites (Marghera, Chioggia) every 3 months for 1 year. The digestive gland and gills of each bivalve were analyzed. The concentrations of essential and nonessential metals (including chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, and cadmium) were determined. Because glutathione and metallothioneins (MTs) are involved in metal homeostasis and detoxification, their concentrations were evaluated in relation to metal concentrations. Results show that (1) all three studied species accumulate metals to a considerable extent, with some species-specific differences between the digestive gland and gills; (2) gills are a good tissue to evaluate pollution by examining the MT content. In particular, the correlation between Zn and MT levels in the gills indicates that M. galloprovincialis and S. inaequivalvis are sentinel organisms and can be used specifically for Zn pollution; (3) T. philippinarum accumulates Cu in the digestive gland more readily than the other two bivalves and therefore has the highest MT.

Assessment of antioxidant responses and trace metal accumulation by digestive gland of ribbed mussel Aulacomya atra atra from Northern Patagonia

“…Our results were also lower than those found in Antarctic bivalve L. elliptica (Husmann et al, 2012) and in different species of scallops (Belcheva et al, 2006;Bustamante and Miramand, 2004). Digestive gland in bivalves has been reported by many researchers as the main tissue of Cd accumulation (Hervé -Ferná ndez et al, 2010;Husmann et al, 2012;Irato et al, 2003;Saavedra et al, 2008). The slower rate of excretion of Cd in the digestive glands has already been explained by the presence of metallothioneins (Hervé -Ferná ndez et al, 2010;.…”

Temporal variations in metallothionein concentration and subcellular distribution of metals in gills and digestive glands of the oyster <i>Crassostrea angulata</i>

“…Similar results were obtained in oyster C. iridescens (Frías-Espericueta et al, 1999b) and M. galloprovincialis (Irato et al, 2003;Simkiss and Taylor, 1995). Fisher and Reinfeld (1995) pointed out that the elements associated with particulate material are accumulated in soft tissues like the digestive gland, whereas soluble metals accumulate in the gills: thus, metal accumulation in different tissues are related to the form in which the metal is available in the environment (soluble, particulate, etc.).…”

Assessment of Clam Ruditapes philippinarum as Heavy Metal Bioindicators Using NMR‐Based Metabolomics

“…Due to the wide distribution, long life cycle, high tolerance to salinity and temperature, ease of collection, and high bioaccumulation of heavy metals, Manila clam therefore meets most of the criteria that define a bioindicator for metal pollution monitoring and hence has been considered a good bioindicator in marine and coast ecotoxicology [4,5]. Recent toxicological studies have elucidated distinct biochemical and genetic responses of R. philippinarum to heavy metal exposures and other toxic contaminants, which supports the proposition that R. philippinarum could be a useful biomonitor for marine and coastal pollutions [6][7][8][9]. However, there are dominantly distributed three pedigrees (White, Liangdao Red, and White) of Manila clams in Yantai population along the Bohai coast.…”