Effects of cadmium on content and change of metallothionein in juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus
ZHANG Cong-yao1,2,WU Fan-xiu3,ZHANG Jian-qiang2,ZUO Ran-tao1, MA Yue-xin1,CHANG Ya-qing1,ZHOU Wei1,2
1.Key Laboratory of Mariculture&Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea,Ministry of Agriculture,Dalian Ocean University,Dalian 116023,China; 2.Dalian Fisheries Industry Technology Innovation Association,Dalian 116023,China;3.The National Fisheries Techonology Extension Center,China Fisheries Society,Beijing 100125,China
Abstract: The contents of metallothionein(MT)were monitored in juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus with body weight of(8.87±1.12)g exposed to cadmium concentration of＜0.005,0.025,0.050,0.250,and 0.500 mg/L for 0,12,36,60,84,and 108 h at water temperature of 16-18℃to investigate the effects of cadmium on content and change of metallothionein in juvenile sea cucumber.The MT contents were shown to be significantly increased in the intestine,respiratory trees and body wall of juvenile sea cucumber exposed to cadmium with a concentration equal to or higher than 0.025 mg/L(P＜0.05),with the maximal content of MT in intestine,followed by respiratory tree and body wall,with significance difference(P＜0.05).MT contents in all detected tissues were first found to be significantly increased in the first 36 h,and then kept at a constant level at the exposure time from 36 h to 108 h.The juveniles exposed to cadmium had significantly higher MT contents in intestine and respiratory tree(P＜0.05),significantly higher in the body wall at 0.025 mg/L and 0.050 mg/L cadmium than that in the lowest concentration(＜0.005 mg/L),and significantly lower MT contents than that in the highest concentration (0.500 mg/L)(P＜0.05).The findings indicated that cadmium induced the synthesis of MT,whose contents in intestine and respiratory tree were chosen as the sensitive parameter to assess cadmium contamination of sea water.
2017, Vol. 32 
