Acute toxicity of cadmium and copper in hepatopancreas cells from the Roman snail (Helix pomatia)

MANZL, C., KRUMSCHNABEL, G., SCHWARZBAUM, P.J., DALLINGER, R.

COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

Año: 2004 p. 45 - 52

1532-0456

The toxic effects of cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) on cellular metabolism and cell morphology were investigated in isolated hepatopancreas cells from the Roman snail (Helix pomatia). Cell viability was unaffected during one hour of incubation with 100 µM Cd, but was significantly reduced from 93% in controls to 87% and 85% with 100 µM Cu and 500 µM Cd, respectively. The adverse effect of 500 µM Cd on cell viability was not observed in cells isolated from Cd pre-treated snails. Oxygen consumption remained constant in the presence of 100 µM Cu but was inhibited by 38% after one hour of exposure to 500 µM Cd. Hepatopancreas cells showed enhanced formation of reactive oxygen species when exposed to 100 µM Cu, but not in the presence of Cd. Morphologically, an increase in cell volume of Cd-exposed cells was noted, while cell membrane bleb formation was induced by both metals. The latter may have been induced by metal-effects on the actin filamentous network of the cells which showed distinct actin-staining within the blebs at the cell surface. Overall our data indicate that both Cd and Cu are acutely toxic for hepatopancreas cells form the Roman snail with Cu being more toxic than Cd.