A baseline study of the metallothioneins induction and its reversibility in Neohelice granulata from the Bahía Blanca Estuary (Argentina)
- Buzzi, Natalia Sol
- Marcovecchio, Jorge Eduardo
DOIAbstract
Contamination by heavy metals causes serious effects in marine systems. Nowadays, the combination of chemical and biological data is recommended in monitoring programs. Metallothioneins (MT) are early-warning signals of metal exposure and are widely used in biomonitoring. The present research evaluates the heavy metals levels in sediments and the MT synthesis in the crab Neohelice granulata from the Bahía Blanca Estuary (BBE). Then, the recovery capabilities of N. granulata followed by a depuration phase are assessed. Results demonstrate a slow decline in the level of metals in the study area. In relation to MT, female crabs showed elevated MT when compared to males. Furthermore, MT synthesis diminished after the depuration phase. These dat...
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