Influence of Age, Sex and Body Condition on Zinc, Copper, Cadmium and Metallothioneins in Common Guillemots (Uria aalge) Stranded at the Belgian Coast.
Common guillemot; Belgian coast; Metallothionein; Cu; Cachexia
Abstract :
[en] The common guillemots, Uria aalge, found stranded at the Belgian coast, display high levels of Cu in both liver and kidneys. The condition index of the animals, defined as the ratio of liver to kidneys mass (Wenzel & Adelung, 1996), influences both the metal concentration and its binding to metallothioneins (MT): the lower the condition index, the more emaciated the animals, and the higher the total Cu concentration and the concentration of Cu bound to MT. In less robust individuals, our results suggest that Cu could displaces Zn from MT rendering the Zn ions available to induce a new MT synthesis. Sex related effects also emerged as significantly higher hepatic MT as well as Cu- and Zn-MT concentrations were found in emaciated male guillemots compared to females. In both organs, Cd concentrations remained low and typically demonstrated an age-dependent renal accumulation, with no noticeable effect of the condition index. As a whole, these results suggest that, for guillemots found stranded at the Belgian coast, Cu binding to hepatic and renal MT could function as a protective mechanism, rendering the metal ions unavailable to exert any cytotoxic activity.
Debacker, Virginie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Ecologie animale et écotoxicologie
Schiettecatte, Laure-Sophie
Jauniaux, Thierry ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de morphologie et pathologie > Département de morphologie et pathologie
Bouquegneau, Jean-Marie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie
Language :
English
Title :
Influence of Age, Sex and Body Condition on Zinc, Copper, Cadmium and Metallothioneins in Common Guillemots (Uria aalge) Stranded at the Belgian Coast.
Publication date :
December 2001
Journal title :
Marine Environmental Research
ISSN :
0141-1136
Publisher :
Elsevier, Netherlands
Volume :
52
Issue :
5
Pages :
427-444
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Name of the research project :
Impulse Programme in Marine Sciences
Funders :
BELSPO - SPP Politique scientifique - Service Public Fédéral de Programmation Politique scientifique
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