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A freshwater symbiosis as sensitive bioindicator of cadmium

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Abstract

The vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems due to the entry of cadmium (Cd) is a concern of public and environmental health. This work explores the ability of tissues and symbiotic corpuscles of Pomacea canaliculata to concentrate and depurate Cd. From hatching to adulthood (4 months), snails were cultured in reconstituted water, which was a saline solution in ASTM Type I water. Then, adult snails were exposed for 8 weeks (exposure phase) to Cd (5 μg/L) and then returned to reconstituted water for other 8 weeks (depuration phase). Cadmium concentration in the digestive gland, kidney, head/foot and viscera (remaining of the snail body), symbiotic corpuscles, and particulate excreta was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. After exposure, the digestive gland showed the highest concentration of Cd (BCF = 5335). Symbiotic corpuscles bioaccumulated Cd at a concentration higher than that present in the water (BCF = 231 for C symbiotic corpuscles, BCF = 8 for K symbiotic corpuscles). No tissues or symbiotic corpuscles showed a significant change in the Cd levels at different time points of the depuration phase (weeks 8, 9, 10, 12, and 16). The symbiotic depuration through particulate excreta was faster between weeks 8 and 10, and then slower after on. Our findings show that epithelial cells of the digestive gland of P. canaliculata and their symbiotic C corpuscles are sensitive places for the bioindication of Cd in freshwater bodies.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (grants RCS05712015 and RCS4142 2019) and Fondo Nacional de Ciencia y Técnica of Argentina (PICT 20131190). We thank Dr. Cristian Rodriguez for careful reading of the manuscript and advice. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IHEM – CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

    Alejandra D. Campoy-Diaz, Sophia Escobar-Correas & Israel A. Vega

  2. Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

    Alejandra D. Campoy-Diaz, Sophia Escobar-Correas & Israel A. Vega

  3. Laboratorio de Química Analítica para Investigación y Desarrollo (QUIANID), Instituto Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Padre J. Contreras 1300, (5500) Mendoza, Argentina

    Brenda V. Canizo & Rodolfo G. Wuilloud

  4. Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

    Israel A. Vega

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  1. Alejandra D. Campoy-Diaz
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  2. Sophia Escobar-Correas
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Contributions

IAV coordinated the experiments. ADCD and IAV designed and conceived the experiments. ADCD and SEC performed all the experiments. RGW and BVC executed the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry analysis. IAV contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools. ADCD and IAV contributed to the writing of the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Israel A. Vega.

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Campoy-Diaz, A.D., Escobar-Correas, S., Canizo, B.V. et al. A freshwater symbiosis as sensitive bioindicator of cadmium. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 2580–2587 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07082-x

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