Metal bioaccumulation in Persian sturgeon after sublethal exposure

Abstract

Tissue metal accumulations (gills, liver, kidney and muscle) in Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) were compared folowing exposure to sublethal levels of waterborne Cd (50, 400 and 1000 μg•L-1) after periods of 1, 2, 4 and 14 days. The obtained results indicate that at the end of 4 and 14 days of exposure, total tissue cadmium concentration followed the pattern: liver > gill > kidney > muscle. Calculation of bioconcentration factor (BCF) after 14 days exposure showed that at low and high concentrations, highest BCFs were found in kidney and liver, respectively. According to the results, the accumulation capacity of muscle was the lowest at all exposure concentrations. Cd concentration in the cytosol of experimental tissues were measured and the results indicated that Cd levels in the cytosol of liver, kidney and gills increased 240.71, 32.05, and 40.16-fold, respectively 14 days after exposure to 1000 μgL-1 Cd. The accumulation of Cd in cytosol of tissues is in the order of liver> gills> kidney.