Biomedical subjects

Brigitte Berthet

Publications and source records attributed to Brigitte Berthet.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Significance of physicochemical forms of storage in microalgae in predicting copper transfer to filter-feeding oysters (Crassostrea gigas).

Copper distribution has been examined in two microalgae (Haslea ostrearia, Diatom; Tetraselmis suecica, Prasinophyceae) exposed to Cu at 30 microg/L(-1). Exchangeable copper linked at the cell surface was desorbed using 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonate as complexing agent. Then, incorporated copper was separated between soluble and insoluble fractions. In addition, algae were resuspended in acid solutions, the pHs of which covered the range existing in the digestive tract of bivalves. Considering that the soluble fraction is the most easily transferred in the food chain and that exchangeable Cu is easily desorbed, the percentages of Cu potentially available in microalgae have been assessed. These percentages have been compared with those retained in oysters Crassostrea gigas fed with contaminated microalgae in previous studies. In H. ostrearia, the potentially available fraction of Cu (90%) was very similar to the percentage retained by oysters (93%) when the bivalves were acclimated to this food for 3 weeks. Only half (21%) of the potentially available Cu of T. suecica (42%) was readily assimilated in oysters after 3 weeks. This is in agreement with the results of the desorption tests at physiological pHs which showed that only 15-25% of Cu was lost, despite solubilization of other constituents of T. suecica as demonstrated by the decrease in their dry weight. Bioavailability determined from metal speciation in food allows a relevant prediction of the trophic transfer in the case of H. ostrearia, but caution is recommended in generalizing this mode of assessment as shown in the case of T. suecica.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Metallothionein concentration in sponges (Spongia officinalis) as a biomarker of metal contamination.

The synthesis of metallothioneins (MTs) is often induced when organisms are exposed to heavy metals in the field. They are among the major "specific" biomarkers identified to date. With a view to include MTs in biomonitoring programs, the organisms most commonly studied are bivalves. Sponges present most of the characteristics researched in bioindicators of pollution and consequently have been proposed to constitute a "Sponge Watch Program". The detection of large quantities of metals in sponges suggests the existence of detoxification systems and indeed, the presence of metallothionein-like proteins (MTLPs) has been reported in two different species of sponges. In Spongia officinalis, the present study has demonstrated the presence of compounds exhibiting most of the characteristics of MTs: cytosolic, heat-stable, with apparent molecular mass of 4 to 15 kDa and binding (at least) Ag, Cu and Zn. Specimens have been collected along the French Mediterranean coast from three sites differing by their degree of contamination. Relationships between MTLP and metal concentrations have been established. For copper, mercury and zinc, the correlations were significantly positive.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Some methodological aspects of metallothionein evaluation.

The specificity of the methods used for metallothioneins (MTs) determination in both field and laboratory studies is crucial to a relevant interpretation of the results. The technique applied in the present study is commonly used, but several potential problems may limit its validity: (i). the stability of the metal-SH links during heating and the possibility of metal exchanges between MTs and others compounds; (ii). the presence of heat-stable thiol compounds with high molecular weight or very low molecular weight, which may subsist in the supernatant and interfere during global analysis of MTs; (iii). the subsistence of metals not bound to MT in the supernatant after heating; and (iv). the impact of reducing agents such as mercaptoethanol on the metal-binding ligands. Our investigations were conducted mainly on oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and polychaetes (Hediste/Nereis diversicolor) sampled, respectively, in two French metal-rich sites, the Gironde estuary and Boulogne harbour. This study, which allowed us to clarify most of the potential problems noted above, indicates the importance of dealing with methodological difficulties.

Animals↗