Glycogen-lead relationship in the earthworm Dendrobaena rubida from a heavy metal site

Summary

Control individuals contained no lead in the chloragocytes but high α-glycogen rosette reserves. Starvation of contaminated earthworms for 4d caused a lead loss and the chloragocytes possessed fewer debris vesicles than those of unstarved worms, suggesting that the debris vesicles may be the route for at least some of the lead loss. No glycogen deposits were observed in the chloragocytes of starved or unstarved earthworms from contaminated soil. Maintenance of contaminated earthworms in potting compost caused lead losses similar to those sustained by starvation, but the chloragocyte cytoplasm possessed β-glycogen reserves. Specimens maintained in lead-spiked potting compost showed lead levels similar to those of earthworms taken directly from contaminated soil. No β-glycogen accumulations were observed under this enriched regime.

Although the possible interference of lead in carbohydrate metabolism is discussed, the results do not wholly support metabolic inhibition by lead. It is hypothesised that lead sequestration is energy-demanding and that in the absence of an energy-rich diet glycogen stores fail to accumulate. In the presence of an organic-rich medium, elevated lead levels preclude glycogen formation, because of the high sequestration-demand, but at lower lead levels β-glycogen deposits occur if a high organic diet is available.