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In vivo effect of cadmium, copper and lead on glutathione concentration in Mercenaria brown cells

Conference ·
OSTI ID:37432
 [1]
  1. Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI (United States)
The intent of this study was to test the hypothesis that Cd{sup 2+}, C{sup 2+} and Pb{sup 2+} cause depletion of glutathione (GSH) in brown cells of Mercenaria mercenaria (Bivalvia). Brown cell involvement in detoxification is due in part to endogenous GSH which conjugates with many divalent metals and xenobiotics. When compared to controls, Mercenaria injected with 20 mM Cd{sup 2+}, 1.0 mM Cu{sup 2+}, or 5.0 mM Pb{sup 2+} had significantly less GSH in brown cells. Lower GSH concentrations due to each metal treatment was not dose dependent. However, N-methylmaleimide (NEM), which binds irreversibly to sulfhydryl groups and used as a positive control in this study, lowered brown cell GSH concentrations in a dose dependent manner after injection into Mercenaria. When the fluorescent probe monochlorobimane (mBC1) which is specific for GSH was used in conjunction with laser cytometry, it became apparent that the fluorescent conjugate was diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm and is heterogeneously distributed among brown cell populations. In addition, mBC1 treatment of brown cells from Mercenaria injected with Cd{sup 2+}, CU{sup 2+} or Pb{sup 2+}, indicated that brown cell resistance to metal cytotoxicity may be due to interference with metal transport across brown cell membranes. These results indicate that partial not complete depletion of GSH with metals is possible in brown cells.
OSTI ID:
37432
Report Number(s):
CONF-9410273--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English