The Response of Metallothionein and Malondialdehyde after Exclusive and Combined Cd/Zn Exposure in the Crab Sinopotamon henanense

The purpose of this paper is to show the interactions of Cd and Zn in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense through metallothionein (MT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level measurements. Laboratory acclimated S.henanense were exposed to Cd (50 µg/L, 100 µg/L, 500 µg/L ), and Zn (100 µg/L, 1000 µg/L) alone and in combined treatments (100 µg/L Zn+50 µg/L Cd, 100 µg/L Zn+100 µg/L Cd, 100 µg/L Zn+500 µg/L Cd, 1000 µg/L Zn+50 µg/L Cd, 1000 µg/L Zn+100 µg/L Cd, 1000 µg/L Zn+500 µg/L Cd) for 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 days. The results demonstrated that the MDA contents increased with exposure time and dose and showed time- and dose-dependence in both gills and hepatopancreas of S.henanense after single Cd exposure, while the changes of MDA levels were not significant with single Zn exposure. The MDA levels decreased when the crabs were exposed to metal mixtures compared to Cd exposure alone, indicating that Zn mediated the cellular toxicity of Cd. MT contents increased after single Cd exposure and also showed a time- and dose-dependence, in a tissue-specific way. Zn showed a limited ability of MT induction both in gills and hepatopancreas of S.henanense. The MT contents represented not a simple addition of single metal exposures but were enhanced at a higher concentration of Zn combined with different Cd concentrations compared to single metal exposure. Whether MT can be used as a biomarker for complex field conditions need to be considered cautiously since different induction patterns of MT were found among single Zn, Cd and combined groups. It is suggested that several biomarkers together as a suite should be used in the monitoring of heavy metal pollution in the aquatic environment.