forthcoming year, in order to evaluate seasonal
differences.
In conclusion, our results led us to conclude
that MT and GSH contents in mussels may be
considered as biomarkers of heavy metal exposure, and that their use should be promoted also
in field monitoring. MT and GSH biomarkers
indicate an anomalous situation, which may also
be caused by several other factors. Metal monitoring is necessary for knowledge on which metals occur in and are accumulated by animals. The
above two monitoring methods are not alternatives, but are complementary. The two techniques used together may provide a considerable
improvement over current monitoring
approaches which are based on contaminant
analysis alone.
Acknowledgements. Grant: Cofinanziamento MURST, project
"Conservazione della biodiversitA e gestione sostenibile dei
bioti salmastri delle coste itaIiane".
References
Anderson ME (1985) Determination of glutathione and glutathione disulfide in biological samples. Methods Enzymol
113: 548-555
Bordin G, McCourt J, Cordiero Raposo F, Rodriguez AR (1997)
Metallothionein-like metalloproteins in the Baltic clam
Macoma balthica: seasonal variations and induction upon
metal exposure. Mar Biol129: 453-463
Metallothionein and Glutathione as Stress Indicators
89
Burbidge FI. Macey OJ, Webb I, Talbot V (1994) A comparison
between particulate (elemental) zinc and soluble zinc
(ZnC~) uptake and effects in the mussel,Mytilus edulis. Arch
Environ Contam Toxicol26: 466-472
Cossa D, Bourget E, Pouliot D, Piuze J, Chanut JP (1980)
Geographical and seasonal variations in the relationship
between trace metal content and body weight in Mytilus
edulis. Mar BioI 58: 7-14
Lowry OH, Randall RJ, Rosebrough NJ. Farr AL (1951) Protein
measurement with the Falin-phenol reagent. J BioI Chern
193:265-275
Meister A (1989) On the biochemistry of glutathione. In:
Taniguchi N, Higashi T, Sakamoto S, Meister A (eds)
Glutathione centennial: molecular perspectives and clinical
implications. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 3-22
Mouneyrac C, Amiard Ie, Amiard-Triquet C (1998) Effects of natural factors (salinity and body weight) on cadmium, copper,
.zinc and metallothionein-like protein levels in resident populations of oysters Crassostrea gigas from a polluted estuary.
Mar Ecol Progr Ser 162: 125-135
Regoli P (1992) Lysosomal responses as a sensitive stress index in
biomonitoring heavy metal pollution. Mar Ecol Progr Ser 84:
63-69
Scheuhammer AMY, Cherian MG (1991) Quantification of metallothionein by silver saturation. Methods Enzymo1205: 75-83
Viarengo A (1989) Heavy metals in marine invertebrates: mechanisms of regulation and toxicity at the cellular level. Rev
Aquat Sci 1: 295-317
Viarengo A, Canesi L, Garcia Martinez p. Peters LD, Livingstone
DR (1995) Pro-oxidant processes and antioxidant defense
systems in the tissues of the Antarctic scallop (Adamussium
colbecki) compared with the Mediterranean scallop (Pecten
jacobaeus). Comp Biochem PhysiollllB: 119-126
Weight DA, Mihursky lA, Phelps HL (1985) Trace metals in
Chesapeake Bay oysters: intra-sample variability and its
implications for biomonitoring. Mar Environ Res 16: 181-197
differences.
In conclusion, our results led us to conclude
that MT and GSH contents in mussels may be
considered as biomarkers of heavy metal exposure, and that their use should be promoted also
in field monitoring. MT and GSH biomarkers
indicate an anomalous situation, which may also
be caused by several other factors. Metal monitoring is necessary for knowledge on which metals occur in and are accumulated by animals. The
above two monitoring methods are not alternatives, but are complementary. The two techniques used together may provide a considerable
improvement over current monitoring
approaches which are based on contaminant
analysis alone.
Acknowledgements. Grant: Cofinanziamento MURST, project
"Conservazione della biodiversitA e gestione sostenibile dei
bioti salmastri delle coste itaIiane".
References
Anderson ME (1985) Determination of glutathione and glutathione disulfide in biological samples. Methods Enzymol
113: 548-555
Bordin G, McCourt J, Cordiero Raposo F, Rodriguez AR (1997)
Metallothionein-like metalloproteins in the Baltic clam
Macoma balthica: seasonal variations and induction upon
metal exposure. Mar Biol129: 453-463
Metallothionein and Glutathione as Stress Indicators
89
Burbidge FI. Macey OJ, Webb I, Talbot V (1994) A comparison
between particulate (elemental) zinc and soluble zinc
(ZnC~) uptake and effects in the mussel,Mytilus edulis. Arch
Environ Contam Toxicol26: 466-472
Cossa D, Bourget E, Pouliot D, Piuze J, Chanut JP (1980)
Geographical and seasonal variations in the relationship
between trace metal content and body weight in Mytilus
edulis. Mar BioI 58: 7-14
Lowry OH, Randall RJ, Rosebrough NJ. Farr AL (1951) Protein
measurement with the Falin-phenol reagent. J BioI Chern
193:265-275
Meister A (1989) On the biochemistry of glutathione. In:
Taniguchi N, Higashi T, Sakamoto S, Meister A (eds)
Glutathione centennial: molecular perspectives and clinical
implications. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 3-22
Mouneyrac C, Amiard Ie, Amiard-Triquet C (1998) Effects of natural factors (salinity and body weight) on cadmium, copper,
.zinc and metallothionein-like protein levels in resident populations of oysters Crassostrea gigas from a polluted estuary.
Mar Ecol Progr Ser 162: 125-135
Regoli P (1992) Lysosomal responses as a sensitive stress index in
biomonitoring heavy metal pollution. Mar Ecol Progr Ser 84:
63-69
Scheuhammer AMY, Cherian MG (1991) Quantification of metallothionein by silver saturation. Methods Enzymo1205: 75-83
Viarengo A (1989) Heavy metals in marine invertebrates: mechanisms of regulation and toxicity at the cellular level. Rev
Aquat Sci 1: 295-317
Viarengo A, Canesi L, Garcia Martinez p. Peters LD, Livingstone
DR (1995) Pro-oxidant processes and antioxidant defense
systems in the tissues of the Antarctic scallop (Adamussium
colbecki) compared with the Mediterranean scallop (Pecten
jacobaeus). Comp Biochem PhysiollllB: 119-126
Weight DA, Mihursky lA, Phelps HL (1985) Trace metals in
Chesapeake Bay oysters: intra-sample variability and its
implications for biomonitoring. Mar Environ Res 16: 181-197