Uptake and detoxification of trace metals in estuarine crabs: insights into the role of metallothioneins

TRUCHET, DANIELA MARÍA; BUZZI, NATALIA SOL; SIMONETTI, PÍA; MARCOVECCHIO, JORGE EDUARDO

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Año: 2020

0944-1344

The detoxification process of trace metals in the estuarine burrowing crab Neohelice granulata, after previously being exposed toanthropogenic pressures in the field, is described for the first time. The objectives of this study were (a) to assess the metal content(Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, Ni, Cr, Fe) in the sediments and the uptake of these elements in the hepatopancreas of N. granulata; (b) toquantify trace metal concentrations in the hepatopancreas before and after the detoxification experiment; and (c) to relate thisinformation tometallothionein (MT) induction or reversibility. The detoxification assay was performed for 25 days with artificialseawater under controlled conditions in a culture chamber. The results showed higher uptake and bioaccumulation of Zn and Cufrom the sediments, and the hepatopancreas exhibited increased levels of Zn and lower concentrations of the rest of themetals andMTs after the assay, mainly Fe and Mn that were significantly lower.We conclude that trace metals could be translocated to andaccumulated in the hepatopancreas, the main metabolic organ, and then eliminated under controlled conditions with correspondingreversibility of MTs.