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Impact of Waterborne Copper on the Structure of Gills and Hepatopancreas and Its Impact on the Content of Metallothionein in Juvenile Giant Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Crustacea: Decapoda)

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An Erratum to this article was published on 17 March 2009

Abstract

This study aims to elucidate both the impact of copper on the structure of the gills and hepatopancreas and the induction of metallothionein (MT) during waterborne copper exposure in juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Structural observations were performed with light microscopy, and the MT titrations were performed with the cadmium saturation assay. The structural changes that occurred in the gills and hepatopancreas appeared to result from copper accumulation, and the degree of damage observed in both tissues was relevant to the elevated waterborne copper concentration. Exposure to copper concentrations ranging from 0.01 mg/L to 0.4 mg/L for 7 days resulted in profound structural changes including the accumulation of hemocytes in the hemocoelic space; swelling and fusion of the lamellae; abnormal gill tips; and hyperplastic, necrotic, and clavate–globate lamellae in the gills. Similarly, hemocytic infiltration in the interstitial sinuses, an increased number of hemocytes, thickening and ruptures of the basal laminae, and necrosis of the tubules were observed in the hepatopancreas. The MT measurements showed no significant differences in MT contents between the control group and the group treated with 0.01 mg/L waterborne copper. The maximum MT content was observed at the level of 0.4 mg/L waterborne copper.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Ministry of Personnel (Scientific Research Foundation of for Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, 2004, Project No. 2-105053), and the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences for Chief Scientists (Project No. 1-105011).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, People’s Republic of China

    Na Li & Yunlong Zhao

  2. Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment and Resources of Inland Fisheries, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, People’s Republic of China

    Jian Yang

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  1. Na Li
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  2. Yunlong Zhao
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Correspondence to Jian Yang.

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An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00244-009-9306-y.

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Li, N., Zhao, Y. & Yang, J. Impact of Waterborne Copper on the Structure of Gills and Hepatopancreas and Its Impact on the Content of Metallothionein in Juvenile Giant Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Crustacea: Decapoda). Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 52, 73–79 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-005-0214-5

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