Maternal cadmium exposure induces mt2 and smtB mRNA expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio) females and their offspring
- Authors
- Wu, S.M., Tsai, P.R., and Yan, C.J.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-120306-20
- Date
- 2012
- Source
- Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP 156(1): 1-6 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Keywords
- cadmium, heavy metal, larval, maternal effect, MT isoform, stress, teleost, zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
-
- Female
- Larva/drug effects
- Larva/genetics
- Larva/metabolism
- Zebrafish/genetics*
- Zebrafish/metabolism
- Animals
- Gene Expression/drug effects
- Maternal Exposure/adverse effects*
- Metallothionein/genetics*
- Metallothionein/metabolism
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
- Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
- Ovary/metabolism
- Male
- Cadmium/toxicity*
- RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis
- RNA, Messenger/genetics*
- PubMed
- 22387671 Full text @ Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C Toxicol. Pharmacol.
The present study aimed to identify the effects of maternal cadmium (Cd2+) exposure on the mRNA expression of mt2 (metallothionein-2) and smtB (similar to metallothionein-B) in female zebrafish (Danio rerio) and their offspring (F1 larvae). Zebrafish females were exposed to 0, 8.9, 17.8, and 35.6 μM Cd2+ for 72 h, and their ovaries and F1 larvae were collected to measure their Cd2+ contents and their smtB and mt2 mRNA expression. Cd2+ contents and the mRNA expression of smtB and mt2 in F1 larvae all showed positive correlations with the maternal Cd2+ treatment dose. The mt2 was 1.9- to 3.4-fold higher than smtB in F1 larvae. Furthermore, F1 larvae had noticeably enhanced Cd2+ tolerance after maternal Cd2+ treatment. These results demonstrate that maternal Cd2+ was transferred to larval fish and induced mt2 and smtB mRNA expression to protect larva against the impacts of Cd2+. In female ovaries, mt2 expression showed a noticeable increase after exposure to a metal environment, while smtB did not show exactly the same effect. The study can only conclude that smtB might have a much different role other than just protecting against the impacts of metals.