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Changes in activity of non-specific esterases in cadmium treated Lymantria dispar larvae

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Abstract

Many biochemical, physiological and histological criteria have been used as indicators of exposures and effects of the contaminants. These changes can indicate the response of an organism to a specific environmental stressor. In the present paper, the effect of the acute and chronic exposure to cadmium as well as recovery from two cadmium concentrations (10 and 30 μgCd/g dry food) on gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) midgut esterases was investigated. The influence of cadmium on trait plasticity was also examined. Esterases showed great sensitivity to low metal concentrations during acute and chronic treatments. Their activities during short-term exposure and after recovery significantly depended on cadmium concentrations. The esterases had greater index of plasticity during chronic treatments with 10 and 30 μgCd/dry food. Five esterase isoforms between 64 and 250 kDa were detected. Isoforms of esterases exposed to any of the two cadmium effects differed among several egg-masses. Isozymes were distinguished in one egg-mass during different cadmium treatments. We conclude that these enzymes could be considered potential and sensitive non-selective biomarkers for the presence of cadmium in food.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by the Serbian Ministry of Education and Science (grant No.173027).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, Despot Stefan Blvd. 142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia

    Milena Vlahović, Vesna Perić Mataruga, Larisa Ilijin, Marija Mrdaković, Dajana Todorović & Jelica Lazarević

  2. Department of Biomedical Science, State University of Novi Pazar, Vuka Karadžića bb, 36 300, Novi Pazar, Serbia

    Dejan Mirčić

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  1. Milena Vlahović
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  2. Vesna Perić Mataruga
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Correspondence to Milena Vlahović.

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Vlahović, M., Perić Mataruga, V., Ilijin, L. et al. Changes in activity of non-specific esterases in cadmium treated Lymantria dispar larvae. Ecotoxicology 21, 370–378 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-011-0798-7

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