Levels Of Cd Accumulation Research Articles

Effects of cadmium pollution in soil on cadmium accumulation of cabbage and its biological effects on human intestinal cells line

The pot experiment grown with cabbage was conducted. The initial soil and six incubated soils with different total Cd (0.25, 0.78, 1.3, 3.18, 5.34 and 7.11mg Cd/kg soil) were used in the pot experiment. The present study was to examine cadmium (Cd) accumulation in edible parts of cabbage and its correlation with Cd concentrations in cabbage garden soil, and evaluate the bioavailability and toxicity of Cd accumulating in cabbage by a human intestinal cell culture model (Caco-2). The results showed that Cd accumulation of cabbage was linearly correlated with Cd concentration in grown soils. Cd uptake of Caco-2 cells increased gradually with increasing level of Cd accumulation in cabbage. MTT assay investigation suggested that viability of the Caco-2 cells reduced with Cd accumulation in cabbage. In comparison with the control group, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the experiment groups decreased as treated with Cd contaminated cabbages, and there was significant difference in partial groups (p < 0.05). At levels of 47.69mg Cd kg-1 accumulated in cabbage, the value of T-AOC of cells decreased significantly (p < 0.05), while the content of MDA in cells was significantly higher than that in other groups. The results suggested that Cd concentrations in the edible parts of test cabbage crops were linearly responded to the Cd levels in the growth soil, and toxicological effect of Cd to Caco-2 cells aggravated gradually with Cd accumulation increased in cabbage.

Accumulation and translocation of Cd metal and the Cd-induced production of glutathione and phytochelatins in Vicia faba L.

Translocation of cadmium (Cd) in the tissues of Vicia faba, the water content in biomass, the biomass production, and the glutathione and phytochelatin tissue concentrations were studied and correlated with the plant sensitivity and/or tolerance to Cd. The total concentrations of Cd were determined by inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), the concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatins 2 and 3 (PC2 and PC3) were determined by on-line high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray-ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI–MS–MS) in the roots and leaves of the sensitive and the tolerant cultivars of V. faba grown in Cd containing nutrient solutions (NS, 0–100 μmol l−1 Cd2+). Both the cultivars of V. faba accumulate a major portion of Cd in the roots and only a minor part of ca. 4% in the leaves. The differences between the cultivars concerning Cd accumulation in leaves were apparent from higher Cd concentrations in NS and the Cd amount in the sensitive cultivar was approximately twice as high. In the roots, the differences between the cultivars in the Cd accumulation were only statistically significant with the highest Cd concentrations in NS, with the tolerant cultivar accumulating about 16% more of Cd compared to the sensitive one. The biomass production of the sensitive cultivar decreased approximately twice as fast with increasing Cd concentration in NS. The biomass water content decreased with increasing Cd concentration in NS in both the cultivars. In general, the GSH concentration did not linearly correlate with Cd accumulation, except for the roots of the sensitive cultivar where it was independent, and was higher in the sensitive cultivar than in the tolerant one in both the leaves and roots. The GSH concentration in leaves was approximately one order of magnitude higher than that in the roots for both the cultivars. The relationships between the PC and Cd concentrations in tissues were found nonlinear. At lower Cd accumulation levels, the PC concentrations followed an increase in the Cd accumulation in both the roots and leaves, whereas at higher Cd accumulations the relations differed between roots and leaves. In the roots, the PC concentrations decreased with increasing Cd accumulation, whereas the PC concentration in the leaves followed the decrease in the Cd accumulation.

Effect of combinations of four trace elements on cadmium bioaccumulation in a few tissues of male albino rats

The present study is designed to investigate the accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in selected tissues such as liver, kidney, testis and small intestine of male albino rats treated for Cd and after combined supplementation with Zinc (Zn) + Iron (Fe) and Selenium (Se) + Copper (Cu). The wistar albino rats were treated with cadmium chloride(CdCl2)at a dose of 1/10th LD50 i.e. 22.5 mg / kg body weight for 7, 15 and 30 days(d) time intervals. After 15 d to Cd treatment, the rats were then supplemented with the above combination of two trace elements and thenobserved for accumulation of Cd at specific time intervals. These trace elements at a dosage of 1 mg/ kg body weight of Se, 16mg/kg body weight of Cu, 12 mg / kg body weight of Zn and 40 mg / kg body weight of Fe were given as supplements. There was significant Cd accumulation in liver and kidney among the selected tissues before to supplementation and there was significant decrease in the Cd accumulation levels in all the tissues after trace element supplementation. Moreover the 30d Zn + Fe supplemented rat kidney showed maximum decrease in Cd accumulation (8.327?g/g wet wt. of the tissue).

Root-to-shoot Cd translocation via the xylem is the major process determining shoot and grain cadmium accumulation in rice

Physiological properties involved in divergent cadmium (Cd) accumulation among rice genotypes were characterized using the indica cultivar ‘Habataki’ (high Cd in grains) and the japonica cultivar ‘Sasanishiki’ (low Cd in grains). Time-dependence and concentration-dependence of symplastic Cd absorption in roots were revealed not to be responsible for the different Cd accumulation between the two cultivars because root Cd uptake was not greater in the Cd-accumulating cultivar ‘Habataki’ compared with ‘Sasanishiki’. On the other hand, rapid and greater root-to-shoot Cd translocation was observed in ‘Habataki’, which could be mediated by higher abilities in xylem loading of Cd and transpiration rate as a driving force. To verify whether different abilities in xylem-mediated shoot-to-root translocation generally account for the genotypic variation in shoot Cd accumulation in rice, the world rice core collection, consisting of 69 accessions which covers the genetic diversity of almost 32 000 accessions of cultivated rice, was used. The results showed strong correlation between Cd levels in xylem sap and shoots and grains among the 69 rice accessions. Overall, the results presented in this study revealed that the root-to-shoot Cd translocation via the xylem is the major and common physiological process determining the Cd accumulation level in shoots and grains of rice plants.

Monitoring of Cadmium Accumulation in Cephalopods Processed in Gujarat Coast

Heavy metal accumulation in cephalopods has been one of the intricate issues in seafood export scenario in India. In recent years, many export consignments of cephalopods processed in Gujarat region were rejected on account of high levels of cadmium. To elucidate this problem, cephalopods landed at different landing centres and processed by various processing units were monitored during the period 2006-07. Among commercial samples of cephalopods, cuttlefish tentacles (0.52±0.08 ppm), squid tentacles (0.28±0.02 ppm) and frozen octopus (0.59±0.1 ppm) recorded highest accumulation of Cadmium. Organ-specific analysis revealed highest accumulation of Cd in the gut of Sepiella inermis (3.34±0.43 ppm) and Squid Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvauceli (5.31±0.43 ppm). Similarly, in the Purpleback flying squid Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis, which is now a days landed by multiday fishing trawlers, highest residue level of Cd was observed in the liver (568.5 ±15 ppm), followed by gills, eyes and tentacles. Among different species of Octopus, highest accumulation was recorded in Octopus macropus (2.28± 1.11 ppm), followed by O. membranaceus (1.86 ±0.35 ppm) and O. defilippi (1.72 ±0.82 ppm). In order to find out the source of Cd, simulation studies were carried out by soaking squid muscle in ink, signifying the fact that poor post harvest handing and consequent rupture of ink sac, followed by soaking in ink-mixed water could be a reason behind high levels of Cd accumulation in cephalopods landed in Gujarat coast.

Role of rhizosphere mechanisms in Cd uptake by various wheat cultivars

In each wheat type, cultivars have different propensities to accumulate Cd in their grains, likely depending on Cd uptake by roots and/or Cd distribution in the plant. This study investigates the processes in the root–soil interface and their role in high or low grain Cd accumulation. Twenty-four cultivars of spring bread, winter bread, durum, and spelt wheat with different grain Cd accumulation levels were investigated regarding removal of Cd from soil, pH, Cd and organic acids in root exudates, and cation-exchange capacity of roots (rootCEC). In addition, we investigated 109Cd uptake from a nutrient solution resembling soil solution. The removal of Cd from the rhizosphere soil increased, likely due to increased rootCEC with increased grain Cd accumulation propensity, except in spring bread wheat. The 109Cd uptake from solution did not differ between high and low grain Cd accumulators. If the soil Cd concentration was elevated, rootCEC increased, as did pH, and succinic acid levels in the exudates, while lactic and citric acid levels in root exudates decreased. This work indicates that high grain Cd accumulators take up more Cd from soil than do low accumulators. But not by a different capacity to take up Cd from soil solution. The higher rootCEC in high accumulating cultivars may influence the release of Cd from the soil particles.

Tissue‐specific cadmium and metallothionein levels in freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense during acute exposure to waterborne cadmium

The freshwater crabs Sinopotamon henanense were exposed to different concentrations of waterborne cadmium (Cd). The relationship between tissue-specific Cd accumulation and metallothionein (MT) induction was investigated using the Cd saturation assay and atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. The results showed that Cd accumulation rose significantly in all tissues studied after Cd exposure, and the Cd accumulation level in various tissues followed the following order: gill > hepatopancreas > muscle > ovary. MT levels were clearly tissue-specific after Cd exposure. Hepatopancreas was found to have the highest MT level, followed by the gill, muscle, and ovary. In conclusion, the results indicated although Cd exposure clearly resulted in MT induction, its synthesis does not correlate with Cd accumulation in the later stage of Cd exposure. The calculated ratios of actual Cd to theoretical maximum Cd-MT in the hepatopancreas were <1.0 under acute waterborne Cd at all sampling points, indicating that the hepatopancreas had much greater Cd-binding potential of MT than the gill, muscle, or ovary. It is clear from our results that a positive correlation was shown between MT induction and Cd accumulation both in hepatopancreas and gill. Therefore, MT induction can be considered as a biomarker for acute waterborne Cd pollution.

High Cadmium Accumulation Among Humans and Primates: Comparison Across Various Mammalian Species—A Study from Japan

The majority of existing literature reports that cadmium (Cd) is toxic to humans and most living organisms. This paper reports the results of our study that measured Cd levels in the livers and kidneys of humans and other 50 mammalian species under normal conditions in Japan. The study tests the differences in the Cd concentrations across different mammalian species and sexes. Our results revealed that (1) there is a strong correlation between the Cd levels in the livers and kidneys across all examined species, (2) humans exhibit the highest Cd accumulation level in both organs, (3) primates also show a high Cd concentration at a level close to humans, (4) mice and rats show low Cd levels in both organs, indicating that humans accumulate about a few thousand times more Cd than mice and rats, and (5) the Cd concentration of female mammals is more than double of males for both organs. Our results indicate that these cross-sex as well as cross-species discrepancies cannot be explained by the difference in daily Cd intake. While further research is necessary to determine any potential role of Cd accumulation, we speculate that Cd plays some physiological function in the renal cortex of humans and primates.

Bacteria Metabolically Engineered for Enhanced Phytochelatin Production and Cadmium Accumulation

Phytochelatins (PCs) with good binding affinities for a wide range of heavy metals were exploited to develop microbial sorbents for cadmium removal. PC synthase from Schizosaccharomyces pombe (SpPCS) was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, resulting in PC synthesis and 7.5-times-higher Cd accumulation. The coexpression of a variant gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase desensitized to feedback inhibition (GshI) increased the supply of the PC precursor glutathione, resulting in further increases of 10- and 2-fold in PC production and Cd accumulation, respectively. A Cd transporter, MntA, was expressed with SpPCS and GshI to improve Cd uptake, resulting in a further 1.5-fold increase in Cd accumulation. The level of Cd accumulation in this recombinant E. coli strain (31.6 micromol/g [dry weight] of cells) was more than 25-fold higher than that in the control strain.

Phytochelatins do not correlate with the level of Cd accumulation in Chlamydomonas spp.

Chlamydomonas acidophila KT-1 and Chlamydomonas acidophila DVB238 exhibit a strong heavy metal tolerance, but C. acidophila DVB238 can accumulate a much higher amount of Cadmium (Cd) than C. acidophila KT-1. Phytochelatins (PCs) are known to play an important role in the detoxification of several toxic heavy metals, but the relationship between PCs and Cd accumulation is not clear. PC metabolism and Cd accumulation were investigated by using three Chlamydomonas strains including Chlamydomonas reinhardtii C-9 as a standard alga. The results showed that the PC content did not correlate closely with the level of Cd accumulation, maintenance of a high GSH level seeming to be more important for Cd accumulation. The ultrastructure of C. acidophila KT-1 was extremely disrupted by a great increase in starch granules, which resulted in a moribund state, but hyper-accumulator C. acidophila DVB238 did not exhibit an increase in starch granules in its cells, in spite of Cd accumulation in its chloroplasts, cytosol and vacuoles. These results indicated that C. acidophila DVB238 probably has a developed detoxification system preventing such as destruction of the cells due to Cd toxicity.

Cadmium for all meals – plants with an unusual appetite

Since the beginning of the Bronze Age the acquisition of metals and the mastering of metal processing has been a driving force in human civilisation. It is difficult to imagine, however, how a plant could possibly profit from accumulating excessive amounts of a metal for which there is no metabolic need. Leaving behind an environmentally degraded wasteland, human mining and smeltering activities contributed to providing the niches for such plants, sometimes even accomplishing seed dispersal – through seeds attached to the boots of migrating miners. A stunning example of this is found in the healthy populations of Thlaspi caerulescens in the Cevennes (southern France), the leaves of which have been found to contain the toxic and non‐essential metal cadmium (Cd) at concentrations between 1000 and 3000 mg kg−1 dry biomass (R. D. Reeves, unpublished). In this issue, experiments under controlled experimental and glasshouse conditions are reported, confirming an extraordinary level of Cd accumulation and tolerance in these populations (Lombi et al., pp. 11–20).

Role of placental metallothionein in maternal to fetal transfer of cadmium in genetically altered mice

The role of placental metallothionein (MT) as a barrier for maternal to fetal transfer of cadmium (Cd) was investigated using mice which overexpressed the MT-1 isoform (MT-1*), mice which did not express the MT-1 and 2 isoforms (MT-null) and control mice (C57BL/6). In addition, immunohistochemical localization of MT in the placenta was determined in these mice. Two days prior to parturition, the mice were injected with radioactive 109Cd chloride (4 μCi, 0.6 ng Cd/mouse) and killed 24 h later. Organs and fetuses were collected and radioactivity, MT and metal levels were measured. Cd accumulated mainly in the liver and kidney (80% of administered dose) with very low levels (0.1–0.3%) detected in fetuses. When analyzed on a per organ or per gram basis, MT-null fetuses accumulated significantly more Cd (3–10-fold) than the control fetuses and there was no significant difference in fetal Cd accumulation in the MT-1* and control fetuses. As expected, MT and zinc levels were higher in MT-1* than C57BL/6 mice and no MT was detected in MT-null mice. Most striking was the high hepatic MT levels in MT-1* dams (4 mg/g). Immunohistochemical analysis showed MT staining in spongiotrophoblasts, glycogen cells, visceral yolk sac, trophoblast giant cells and maternal decidual cells with the MT-1* placenta staining much more intensely as compared to control placenta. The results suggest that placental MT reduces maternal to fetal Cd transfer, however the low doses of Cd administered in the present experiment resulted in high levels of Cd accumulation in liver and kidney in all groups of mice with a low concentration of Cd reaching the placenta. Thus, the role of placental MT as a barrier for Cd is inconclusive.

Cadmium induction of renal and hepatic ornithine decarboxylase activity in the rat: Effects of sex hormones and involvement of the renin-angiotensin system

We investigated the effect of sex hormones on the sex-dependent response of rat kidney ornithine decarboyxlase (ODC) activity to cadmium (Cd) administration and the involvement of the renin-angiotensin system in mediating stimulation of the liver enzyme by the metal. The response of renal ODC to Cd, which occurs in intact adult males but not in females, is also detectable in prepubertal and castrated males. Upon treatment with 17β-estradiol, the basal levels of enzyme activity in intact or castrated adult males were enhanced and Cd administration failed to increase them further. In adult females the kidney enzyme became responsive after ovariectomy. Also, in prepubertal females renal ODC was induced by Cd, and this was prevented by treatment with 17β-estradiol. Under the same conditions, changes in the levels of Cd accumulation within the kidney, that might account for variations in the response of ODC activity, did not occur. Cd caused an increase in renin activity starting minutes after its injection. Captopril, which specifically inhibits the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, prevented completely the induction of liver ODC by this metal; stimulation of the enzyme by Co was not affected by the drug. A similar inhibitory effect was exerted by propranolol. Adrenalectomy had no influence on the response of hepatic ODC to Cd; the decarboxylase was unaffected by aldosterone administration. It is suggested that Cd may induce liver ODC through the increase in angiotensin II following stimulation of renin by the metal.

Metallothioneins and lysosomes in metal toxicity and accumulation in marine mussels: the effect of cadmium in the presence and absence of phenanthrene

It has been confirmed that metallothioneins play an important role in the accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in the digestive gland cells of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam.). The content of Cd in the tissue of mussels exposed for 9 d to the metal (estimated dosage of 180 μg Cd mussel-1 d-1) was 66.2 ppm. This value is about the same as the metal content found in the digestive gland of Cd-exposed mussels kept in clean water for a recovery period of 28 d. At the end of the recovery period, however, the Cd bound to thionein had increased by approximately 250%. Our data demonstrate that the stability of lysosomes, a biological parameter adopted as a cellular stress index, is extremely low in mussels exposed to Cd for 9 d, but returns to control values in the digestive gland cells of mussels allowed to recover for 28 d in uncontaminated sea water. At this point most of the Cd present in the cytosol is bound to thionein. These data demonstrate the importance of metallothionein induction in the reduction of the cytotoxic effects exerted by high levels of Cd accumulation. The results of tests designed to clarify the reasons for the long biological half-life of Cd demonstrated that, in the digestive gland of mussels, the lysosomes are not able to eliminate Cd either bound to insoluble thionein polymers or to lipid peroxidation products such as lysosomal lipofuscin, both of which are apparently involved in the elimination of copper. The absence of these two mechanisms of metal sequestration and elimination via excretion of residual bodies (tertiary lysosomes) is in agreement with the persistence of cadmium in the digestive gland of mussels. Finally, the results also demonstrate that simultaneous exposure of mussels to Cd and phenanthrene, an established lysosomal membrane destabilizer, did not significantly alter the accumulation of Cd or the kinetics of the metal in mussels.

Microanatomy alteration of gills and kidneys in freshwater mussel (Anodonta woodiana) due to cadmium exposure

Abstract. Fitriawan F, Sutarno, Sunarto. 2011. Microanatomy alteration of gills and kidneys in freshwater mussel (Anodonta woodiana) due to cadmium exposure. Nusantara Bioscience 3: 28-35. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of Cd accumulation in the gills and kidneys, to know the changes in microanatomic structure of A. woodiana after the various treatments of heavy metals. Completely randomized design pattern of 5 x 3 as used in this laboratory experiment. The amount of exposure of heavy metals Cd was (0 ppm, 0.5 ppm, 1 ppm, 5 ppm, 10 ppm), while the variation of length of exposure time to Cd were (7 days, 14 days, and 30 days). The parameters of Cd accumulation in the gills and kidney was analyzed by using AAS method, while abnormalities of gills and kidney were detected by microanatomy structure. Data collected were then analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and continued with further test the DMRT. The results indicated that there is a significant effect in 475.3 &gt; 0.000 and 60150.3 &gt;0.000 with 5% significance level (P&lt;0.05) of Cd treatment on gill and kidney microanatomy of A. woodiana. The changes in microanatomy structure of those organs are including edema, hyperplasia, fusion of lamella, necrosis, and atrophy.