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Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2016 Dec;134:53-63. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.08.018. Epub 2016 Aug 30.

Variations in gene expression levels in four European zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, populations in relation to metal bioaccumulation: A field study.

Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

E Kerambrun, D Rioult, L Delahaut, L Evariste, S Pain-Devin, M Auffret, A Geffard, E David

Affiliations

  1. Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UMR-I 02 SEBIO (Stress Environnementaux et BIOsurveillance des milieux aquatiques), INERIS-URCA-ULH, France. Electronic address: [email protected].
  2. Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UMR-I 02 SEBIO (Stress Environnementaux et BIOsurveillance des milieux aquatiques), INERIS-URCA-ULH, France; Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne/INERIS, Plateau Technique mobile de cytométrie environnementale MOBICYTE, France.
  3. Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UMR-I 02 SEBIO (Stress Environnementaux et BIOsurveillance des milieux aquatiques), INERIS-URCA-ULH, France.
  4. Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UMR-I 02 SEBIO (Stress Environnementaux et BIOsurveillance des milieux aquatiques), INERIS-URCA-ULH, France; Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, INRS, Institut Armand Frappier, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, Quebec, Canada H7V 1B7.
  5. Université de Lorraine, UMR 7360 LIEC (Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux), CNRS, France.
  6. Université de Bretagne Occidentale, UMR 6539-LEMAR (Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin), IUEM, UBO-CNRS-IRD-Ifremer, F-29280 Plouzane, France.

PMID: 27588554 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.08.018

Abstract

The present study was performed to validate the suitability of using gene expression in zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, for biomonitoring of freshwater environment. Mussels were collected in four French rivers (Meuse, Moselle, Oise and Vilaine) in spring and autumn. Relative gene expression of 9 candidate genes involved in cellular metabolic activities (Cytochrome-c-oxidase - cox, and ATP synthase - atp), detoxification process (Metallothionein - mt and Glutathion-S-Transferase - gst), oxidative stress (Catalase - cat, Superoxyde Dismutase - sod and Glutathion peroxidase - gpx) and digestive functions (Amylase - amy and Cellulase - ghf) were measured in digestive gland. Metal bioaccumulation in tissues and morphometric parameters were also analyzed to interpret molecular responses. All our results are consistent with different physiological reactions to environmental condition between zebra mussel populations. In spring, the levels of mt, sod, gpx, cat, atp, amy and ghf relative expression were significantly higher in mussels with the lowest metal bioaccumulation (the Meuse) compared to at least one of the other sites. In autumn, this higher expression levels in Meuse River were still observed for gpx, cat, atp and amy. This study has also pointed out different sources of variability in gene expression (individual size, season, trophic resources and origin of mussels) which are inevitable in natural fluctuant environment. This underlines the importance to take them into account in field study to propose a correct interpretation of biomarker responses.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Detoxification; Energetic metabolism; Gene expression; Metals; Oxidative stress; Zebra mussel

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