Metallothionein and Heavy Metals in Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) and European Eel (Anguilla anguilla): A Comparative Study

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 44; no. 2; pp. 168 - 173
• Main Authors: Linde, A.R., Sánchez-Galán, S., Klein, D., García-Vázquez, E., Summer, K.H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.10.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Age Factors; Agnatha. Pisces; Anguilla - metabolism; Anguilla anguilla; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; metallothionein; Metallothionein - metabolism; Metals, Heavy - pharmacokinetics; Metals, Heavy - pharmacology; Reference Values; Salmo trutta; Tissue Distribution; Trout - metabolism; Water Pollutants, Chemical - pharmacokinetics; Water Pollutants, Chemical - pharmacology; Europe; Spain; Salmonidae; Anguilla anguilla; Interspecific comparison; Liver; Biological marker; Concentration; Kidney; Heavy metal; Freshwater environment; Pollutant; Binding protein; Vertebrata; Salmo trutta; Pisces; Animal; Water pollution; Stream; Localization; Metallothionein
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1006/eesa.1999.1819

The levels and the cellular distribution of heavy metals, and the extent by which the metals binds to metallothionein (MT) in brown trout (Salmo trutta) and European eel (Anguilla anguilla), were analyzed in order to assess the natural conditions of MT and heavy metals in these two fish species. There were no differences in heavy metals and MT concentrations between males and females of brown trout in a nonreproductive status and between adult brown trout individuals. Brown trout presented higher Cu content than European eel. The cellular distribution of Cu was also different between the two fish species; while in brown trout most of the Cu was in the noncytosolic fraction, Cu was mainly located in the cytosol in European eel. However, the cellular distribution of Zn, Cd, and Pb was similar in the two fish species. There was also an important difference in the metal content of MT between both species. Whereas, in brown trout, Cu-binding MT represented 75% of total metal-binding MT, this value was 25% in European eel. The between-species differences found in this study are intrinsic characteristics not associated with environmental factors. These results establish the basis to use MT as a bioindicator.