INVESTIGADORES
POLIZZI Paula Sabrina
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
The first report on metallothioneins in peripheral blood of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) born in aquarium, Argentina
Autor/es:
POLIZZI, PAULA; ROMERO, MA. BELEN; CHIODI BOUDET, LEILA; LOUREIRO, JORGE; GERPE, MARCELA
Reunión:
Conferencia; 28 TH CONFERENCE OF THE EUROPEAN CETACEAN SOCIETY; 2014
Resumen:
Metallothioneins are proteins involved in the homeostasis of essential metals and detoxification of those non-essentials and
its role as a protective against oxidative stress is also known. They are considered as biomarkers due to constitute responses
at biochemical molecular level, being considered as early warning signals. The blood is a noninvasive method to assess
environmental stress and health status, plus sensitivity of biomarkers relevant information can be achieved. Tursiops
truncatus is a coastal species and basically ichthyophagous, but the specimens analyzed correspond to dolphins born in
oceanarium, feeding exclusively with fish and sometimes with gutted fish. The objective was to evaluate metallothioneins
in peripheral blood of bottlenose dolphins born in an aquarium. Three adult male dolphins, with good health status, were
analyzed, and they were monitored during one year. Metallothioneins determination was performed by UV -Vis
Spectrometry. The cell fraction presented the highest concentrations, 3:1 ratio respect to plasma. Younger dolphins (15-16
years) showed similar concentrations and significantly higher than found in the oldest dolphin (29 years). Metallothionein
levels have remained constant throughout the year. The information constitutes the first record of metallothionein for the
species, and could be used as reference values.