Back to Search Start Over

Cadmium-induced oxidative stress in Meretrix meretrix gills leads to mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.

Authors :
Wang, Jinhua
Deng, Wanfei
Zou, Ting
Bai, Binbin
Chang, Alan K
Ying, Xueping
Source :
Ecotoxicology; Dec2021, Vol. 30 Issue 10, p2011-2023, 13p
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most important marine environmental pollutants that can cause oxidative damage and apoptosis in living organisms, and mitochondria are the key cell organelles affected by Cd toxicity. In this study, we investigated the effect of Cd on the mitochondria in the gill cells of the clam Meretrix meretrix and the underlying mechanism of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis following exposure to the metal. Exposure of the clams to artificial seawater containing 1.5, 3, 6 and 12 mg L<superscript>−1</superscript> Cd<superscript>2+</superscript> led to swollen mitochondria compared with the untreated clams. The mitochondria also became vacuolated at the higher Cd<superscript>2+</superscript> concentrations. Biochemical assays showed that monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) increased at 1.5 mg L<superscript>−1</superscript> Cd<superscript>2+</superscript>, but decreased at higher Cd<superscript>2+</superscript> concentrations, while the activities of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and cytochrome oxidase (CCO) and the scavenging capacities of anti-superoxide anion (ASA) and anti-hydroxy radical (AHR) all decreased with increasing Cd<superscript>2+</superscript> concentrations. Significant increases in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and H<subscript>2</subscript>O<subscript>2</subscript> as well as in the activity levels of caspase-3, -8, and -9 were also observed in the Cd<superscript>2+</superscript>-treated clams. The results implied that Cd might induce apoptosis in M. meretrix via the mitochondrial caspase-dependent pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
09639292
Volume :
30
Issue :
10
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Ecotoxicology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
153683387
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-021-02465-8