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(18-34) Ovarian maturation and hemolymph vitellogenin on Procambarus clarkii: The impact of the Aznalcollar mining spill. Martín-Díaz, M. Laura1, Tuberty, Shea R.2, McKenney, Charles L.2, Sales, Diego3, DelValls, Angel*,1, 1 Departamento de Química Física. Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales. Campus Río San Pedro s/n., Puerto Real. Cádiz, Spain2 University of West Florida, Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation, One Sabine Island Dr., Gulf Breeze, Florida3 Departamento de Tecnología del MedioAmbiente. Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales. Campus Río San Pedro s/n, Puerto Real. Cádiz, Spain ABSTRACT- The Aznalcollar mining spill poured into the nearby Guadiamar river that flows the Guadalquivir Estuary. The mining accident produced almost 6 Hm3 of mud and acidic waters, with high concentrations of metals in solution including Cd, Cu, Mn, As, Pb and especially Zn. As a consequence, sediment and water quality from the aquatic ecosystem of both rivers was negatively affected. The red crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, as a bioindicator especie, was exposed during 24 days for cadmium and 21 days for zinc, to concentrations measured after the accident in the Guadiamar River: 1000 mgL-1 and 3000 mgL-1 zinc (zinc chloride) and 10 mgL-1 and 30 mgL-1 cadmium (cadmium chloride) mixed with filtered and dechlorinated freshwater. Hemolymph samples (200 mL) were collected every seven days. At the end of the assay, animals were dissected and ovaries and midgut were taken to calculate the ovarian and midgut index respectively. Total protein concentration of hemolymph samples and quantitative vitellogenin ELISA were performed. Ovarian stage, ovarian and midgut index, and vitellogenin and total protein concentation in hemolymph, were compared in different treatments. Differences were observed between exposure and control. Key words: Endocrine disruption, biomarkers, heavy metals, bioassay |
