Liver cadmium uptake, catalase inhibition and cadmium thionein production in the killifish (Fundulus Heteroclitus) induced by experimental cadmium exposure
Adults of mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus, scallop Aquipecten irradians, oyster Crassostrea virginica, and subadult lobsters Homarus americanus were immersed for 21 days in flowing sea water containing 10 μg/liter of cadmium as[Formula: see text]. Cadmium residues in whole animals and selected tissues were consistently higher in exposed organisms than controls; edible portions of treated lobster (muscle), scallop (adductor muscle), and oyster (whole animal) contained more cadmium per unit wet weight than controls by 25%, 19%, and 352%, respectively.
It is unclear how urbanization affects secondary biological production in estuaries in the southeastern USA. We estimated production of larval/juvenile Fundulus heteroclitus in salt marsh areas of North Carolina tidal creeks and tested for factors influencing production. F. heteroclitus were collected with a throw trap in salt marshes of 5 creeks subjected to a range of urbanization intensities. Multiple factor analysis (MFA) was used to reduce dimensionality of habitat and urbanization effects in the creeks and their watersheds. Production was then related to the first 2 dimensions of the MFA, month, and year. Lastly, we determined the relationship between creek-wide larval/juvenile production and abundance from spring and abundance of adults from autumn of the same year. Production in marsh (g m-2 d-1) varied between years and was negatively related to the MFA dimension that indexed salt marsh; higher rates of production were related to creeks with higher percentages of marsh. An asymptotic relationship was found between abundance of adults and creek-wide production of larvae/juveniles and an even stronger density-dependent relationship was found between abundance of adults and creek-wide larval/juvenile abundance. Results demonstrate (1) the ability of F. heteroclitus to maintain production within salt marsh in creeks with a lesser percentage of marsh as long as this habitat is not removed altogether and (2) a density-dependent link between age-0 production/abundance and subsequent adult recruitment. Given the relationship between production and marsh area, natural resource agencies should consider impacts of development on production when permitting construction in the southeastern USA.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of subchronic, oral, low-dose cadmium exposure (32 ppm over 10 weeks) on the rat immune system. We found that cadmium exposure increased the induction of IFNγ and IL-10 in T cells activated ex vivo after cadmium exposure.
Chronic low-level cadmium exposure in rats affects cytokine production by activated T cells