Resumen

ACOSTA, Vanessa; LODEIROS, César; NUSETTI, Osmar  y  LEMUS, Mairín. Biocumulación and effect of cadmium in juveniles the green mussel perna viridis (L.1758) (Mytiloida: Mytilidae). Saber [online]. 2013, vol.25, n.1, pp.39-45. ISSN 1315-0162.

We evaluated the potential for bioaccumulation of Cadmium in juveniles of the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis (with average antero-posterior length 12.67±3.02 mm) exposed to two sublethal concentrations of cadmium chloride (50 and 80 μgCd/ L) and the immediate effect on the RNA/DNA ratio during an exposure period of 8 days. Cadmium levels were quantified in all tissues and the shell, using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer with air-acetylene flame. The ratio RNA/DNA was quantified in the abductor muscle. After two days of the experiment, the mussels showed the highest accumulation of Cd in tissues, which was proportional to the experimental concentrations, and then the levels in tissues remained unchanged during the rest of the experiment. Organisms in the control treatment maintained a constant amount of cadmium throughout the study. The accumulation in the shell was continuous and proportional to the concentration of the treatments. The ratio RNA/DNA showed a decline in both treatments, while organisms in the control group showed the highest levels and without significant changes throughout the experiment. Results showed an immediate incorporation of Cd in organisms, during the first 48 hours of exposure, with subsequent regulation of the metal, generating possibly a metabolic cost to counteract the toxic effect, leading to a decrease in RNA/ DNA ratio. Perna viridis is a species capable of regulating tolerable levels of cadmium, responding with effective regulatory mechanisms that allow it to acclimate to contaminated areas. The continuous accumulation of Cd in the shell suggests that this compartment can be used as an indicator of pollution for this metal in aquatic systems.

Palabras clave : Heavy metals; mussels; accumulation; RNA/DNA.

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