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Metallothionein and metal levels in liver, gills and kidney of Sparus aurata exposed to sublethal doses of cadmium and copper

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Abstract

The levels of metallothionein (MT), a biomarker of metal exposure, and of Cd and Cu, known as MT inducers, were investigated in Sparus aurata intraperitoneally injected with 500 μg/kg of Cu and Cd for 2 days. MT and metal concentrations (Cd and Cu) were determined in liver, gills and kidney. MT levels were significantly increased in all investigated tissues, with the highest value in liver of Cu as Cd-treated fishes (3.56-fold and 3.3- fold, respectively). Metal concentrations were statistically different between all tissues. Highest metal concentrations were in the liver. The higher metal concentrations and MT induction levels support the main role of MT in metal homeostasis and detoxification.

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Acknowledgement

This study was supported by a fund from the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technology, Tunisia (Unité de Recherche en Biochimie et Toxicologie Environnementale).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Toxicologie Environnementale, Institut Supérieur d’Agronomie de Chott-Mariem, 4042, Sousse, Tunisia

    J. Ghedira, J. Jebali, Z. Bouraoui, M. Banni & H. Boussetta

  2. Laboratoire d’Aquaculture, INSTM de Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia

    H. Guerbej

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  1. J. Ghedira
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  2. J. Jebali
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  3. Z. Bouraoui
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  4. M. Banni
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  5. H. Guerbej
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  6. H. Boussetta
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Correspondence to J. Jebali.

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Ghedira, J., Jebali, J., Bouraoui, Z. et al. Metallothionein and metal levels in liver, gills and kidney of Sparus aurata exposed to sublethal doses of cadmium and copper. Fish Physiol Biochem 36, 101–107 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-008-9295-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-008-9295-1

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