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Acute combined exposure to heavy metals (Zn, Cd) blocks memory formation in a freshwater snail

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Abstract

The effect of heavy metals on species survival is well documented; however, sublethal effects on behaviour and physiology are receiving growing attention. Measurements of changes in activity and respiration are more sensitive to pollutants, and therefore a better early indicator of potentially harmful ecological impacts. We assessed the effect of acute exposure (48 h) to two heavy metals at concentrations below those allowable in municipal drinking water (Zn: 1,100 μg/l; Cd: 3 μg/l) on locomotion and respiration using the freshwater snail, Lymnaea stagnalis. In addition we used a novel assessment method, testing the ability of the snail to form memory in the presence of heavy metals in both intact snails, and also snails that had the osphradial nerve severed which connects a chemosensory organ, the osphradium, to the central nervous system. Aerial respiration and locomotion remained unchanged by acute exposure to heavy metals. There was also no effect on memory formation of these metals when administered alone. However, when snails were exposed to these metals in combination memory formation was blocked. Severing the osphradial nerve prevented the memory blocking effect of Zn and Cd, indicating that the snails are sensing these metals in their environment via the osphradium and responding to them as a stressor. Therefore, assessing the ability of this species to form memory is a more sensitive measure of heavy metal pollution than measures of activity, and indicates that the snails’ ability to demonstrate behavioural plasticity may be compromised by the presence of these pollutants.

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Abbreviations

LTM:

Long-term memory

CNS:

Central nervous system

TS1:

First training session

TS2:

Second training session

MT:

Memory test

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments that helped improve our manuscript. J.B. is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, S.D. is funded by Alberta Innovates–Health Solutions, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada supports K.L. and the laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, 2104 HSC Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Jovita Byzitter, Ken Lukowiak, Vikram Karnik & Sarah Dalesman

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  1. Jovita Byzitter
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  2. Ken Lukowiak
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  3. Vikram Karnik
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  4. Sarah Dalesman
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Correspondence to Sarah Dalesman.

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Byzitter, J., Lukowiak, K., Karnik, V. et al. Acute combined exposure to heavy metals (Zn, Cd) blocks memory formation in a freshwater snail. Ecotoxicology 21, 860–868 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-011-0847-2

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