Metallothioneins in metal regulation and toxicity in aquatic animals

Investigation of heavy metal levels in economically important fish species captured from the Tuzla lagoon

Four groups of goldfish were exposed to cadmium in a concentration of 20 mg Cd/l water under aquarium conditions. The duration of exposure was 1, 4, 7 and 15 days. It was shown that the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the red blood cells (RBC) significantly decreased after the first day of cadmium exposure. However, the SOD activity increased after 7 and 15 days of cadmium treatment. Elevated activity of catalase (CAT) was found in erythrocytes of cadmium-treated fishes after 15 days, whereas plasma GOT levels was increased after 7 and 15 days and GPT levels after 1, 4, 7 and 15 days of cadmium treatment. This was accompanied by a significant decrease of blood hemoglobin concentrations (after 15 days) and hematocrit values (after 7 and 15 days). However, the concentration of blood glucose significantly increased after 1, 4, 7 and 15 days of cadmium exposure. These results indicate that cadmium causes oxidative stress and tissue damage in the exposed fishes.

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Activities of Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase in Erythrocytes and Plasma Transaminases of Goldfish (Carassius auratus gibelio Bloch.) Exposed to Cadmium

This report constitutes the outcome of a group effort of 38 scientists from different fields who participated in the “First International Meeting on Metallothionein and Other Low Molecular Weight Metal-binding Proteins”, held in Zurich, Switzerland, July 17 – 22, 1978. The purpose of this meeting was to summarize and appraise present knowledge on metallothionein and other low molecular weight metal-binding proteins in order to facilitate and stimulate further research in this field. Practically, this collaborative effort was accomplished by centering discussions on a draft report which was prepared by M. Nordberg and Y. Kojima from published data and from working papers submitted by the participants and which was distributed to the participants in advance of the conference. The scientific discussions and the accompanying rewriting of the draft report during the meeting took place mainly in four subgroups which dealt with the

1)

Occurrence and chemical characterization of metallothionein and other low molecular weight metal-binding proteins (Sections 3, 4 and 8). 


Participants: Kissling (chairman), Andersen, Bannister, Berger, Brady, Bremner, Kamen, Kimura, Kojima, Lerch, Meister, Olafson, Otaki, Overnell, Pařizek, Piotrowski, Pulido, Biordan, Vallee, Weser, Yoshida.








2)

Physicochemical properties of metallothionein (Section 5). Participants: Rupp (chairman), Bannister, Bethune, Branden, Hill, Kagi, Kamen, Kimura, Otvos, Vallee, Vařak, Weser, Yoshida.




3)

Biosynthesis and degradation of metallothionein (Section 6) Participants: Webb (chairman), Andersen, Brady, Bremner, Cousins, Evans, M. Nordberg, Shaikh.

Metallothionein and Other Low Molecular Weight Metal-Binding Proteins

Studies on metallothionein and cadmium

Mercury and zinc, besides Cadmium, are incorporated into cadmium-binding protein found in liver and kidney of goldfish In the liver, the Cd-BP incorporates more zinc (40%) than in the kidney (12%), while mercury show similar affinity for the Cd-BP of this two organs (17 and 12% respectively)

Binding of mercury and zinc to cadmium-binding protein in liver and kidney of goldfish (Carassius auratus L.).

Aflatoxin wird von einigen gebrauchlichen Kunststoffen innerhalb kurzer Zeit in verhaltnismassig grosser Menge absorbiert. Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse erlauben es, analytische Fehler bei Verwendung ungeeigneten Materials zur Zirkulation oder Filtration von Aflatoxinlosungen zu vermeiden.

E. Marafante

Papers

Binding of mercury and zinc to cadmium-binding protein in liver and kidney of goldfish (Carassius auratus L.).

Uptake of aflatoxin B1 by plastic materials.