Sylvain Demuynck

Growth and metal accumulation in Porcellio scaber exposed to poplar litter from Cd-, Pb-, and Zn-contaminated sites

This study aimed at determining, in the laboratory, the effects of poplar litter collected in woody habitats contaminated by heavy metals on growth and metal accumulation in the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber. Cd, Pb, and Zn pseudototal and CaCl(2)-extractable concentrations in litter types were determined using AAS. Juveniles were fed ad libitum, individually, for 28 days with four litter types presenting an increasing gradient of metal contamination. Individuals were weighed every week and metal body burdens were determined at the end of the experiment. From the first week until the end of the experiment, a decrease in P. scaber growth related to the increase of metal concentration in litter types was recorded. Significant correlations were observed between metal body burdens and metal concentrations in litter types. However, Cd accumulation in woodlice appeared to be related to the Cd/Zn concentration ratio in litter types. All these results showed the potential of weight gain in P. scaber as a suitable indicator for litter quality assessment with ecological relevance.

Stimulation by cadmium of myohemerythrin-like cells in the gut of the annelid Nereis diversicolor

SUMMARY Isolated guts of Nereis diversicolor revealed the existence of a cadmium-binding protein, the MPII, belonging to the group of hemerythrins and myohemerythrins. The presence of MPII in the cells of the intestine was demonstrated by immunocytochemistry, using anti-MPII, a monoclonal antibody. In addition, using in situ hybridization and northern blotting, it was shown that MPII-cells are the site of synthesis of this molecule. Exposure of the worms to cadmium led to the cellular activation process of MPII-cells (i.e. transformation of the nucleolus, development of the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus), although MPII mRNA transcript levels were unchanged. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of gut extracts revealed that MPII levels were increased after exposure to Cd, so it appears that this protein is synthesized as a response to Cd exposure without any new synthesis of mRNA. This mechanism of regulation is quite similar to that reported in the case of mammalian ferritin and may be involved in the regulation of Cd levels in this worm.

Comparative avoidance behaviour of the earthworm Eisenia fetida towards chloride, nitrate and sulphate salts of Cd, Cu and Zn using filter paper and extruded water agar gels as exposure media

We studied the avoidance behaviour of the earthworm Eisenia fetida towards Cd, Cu, and Zn, trace elements (TEs) tested as chloride, nitrate and sulphate salts. Sub adults were exposed individually using dual-cell chambers at 20+2°C in the dark. Recordings were realised at different dates from 2h to 32h. We used filter paper and extruded water agar gel as exposure media to evaluate the contribution of the dermal and the digestive exposure routes on the avoidance reactions. Exposures to Cu or Cd (10mgmetal ionL(-1)) resulted in highly significant avoidance reactions through the exposure duration. Worms avoided Zn poorly and reactions towards Zn salts varied along the exposure. Worm sensitivity towards TEs differed between salts and this could result from differential toxicity or accessibility of these TE salts to earthworms. The anion in itself was not the determinant of the avoidance reactions since exposures to similar concentrations of these anions using calcium salts did not result in significant avoidance worm behaviour. Avoidance responses towards TEs were higher in the case of water agar exposures than in filter paper exposures. Thus, dermal contacts with TE solutions would elicit worm avoidance but signals from receptors located inside the digestive tract could reinforce this behaviour. The use of extruded water agar gels as the substrate allows checking the real sensitivity of earthworm species towards TEs since the TE concentrations leading to significant avoidance reactions were below those reported in the literature when using TE-spiked soils.

Cadmium but not lead exposure affects Xenopus laevis fertilization and embryo cleavage

Among the toxicological and ecotoxicological studies, few have investigated the effects on germ cells, gametes or embryos, while an impact at these stages will result in serious damage at a population level. Thus, it appeared essential to characterize consequences of environmental contaminant exposures at these stages. Therefore, we proposed to assess the effects of exposure to cadmium and lead ions, alone or in a binary mixture, on early stages of Xenopus laevis life cycle. Fertilization and cell division during segmentation were the studied endpoints. Cadmium ion exposures decreased in the fertilization rates in a concentration-dependent manner, targeting mainly the oocytes. Exposure to this metal ions induced also delays or blockages in the embryonic development. For lead ion exposure, no such effect was observed. For the exposure to the mixture of the two metal ions, concerning the fertilization success, we observed results similar to those obtained with the highest cadmium ion concentration.