Metal concentrations, general stress markers and metal
detoxification mechanisms of Solea solea and Solea
senegalensis from NW Mediterranean fishing grounds
R. Siscar1, M. Solé2, A. Torreblanca1
1
Departamento Biología Funcional y Antropología Física. Universitat de València. Dr.
Moliner 50 Burjassot 46100 Valencia, Spain masisen@alumni.uv.es
2
Institut de Ciencies del Mar (ICM-CSIC). Passeig marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49
08003 Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
The common sole, Solea solea (Linneus,1758), and the senegalese sole, Solea
Senegalensis (Kaup, 1858), are two important commercial species that coexist in the
NW Mediterranean Sea. This field survey was designed to assess the kidney metal
and metallothionein (MT) levels in these species and contrast it with sediment metal
levels in the six fishing grounds along the Catalonian coast. Induction of MT in fish and
the bioaccumulation of metals in kidney was associated with biomarkers such as
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), Lipid Peroxidation (LP) and Lactate Dehydrogenase
(LDH) in different tissues. Metal detoxification mechanisms varied on dependence of
MT, selenium (Se) or zinc (Zn) as reliable mechanisms to handle potential metal
toxicity. The protective role of MT was shown in their positive correlations with other
toxic metals after Principal Component Analysis (PCA) considering all variables.
Moreover, molar Se:Hg ratio in kidney was higher than 1. Overall, S. senegalensis
showed greater protection against environmental metals although each species of
Solea relies on particular mechanisms to prevent metal toxicity. (Acknowledgment:
CTM2010-16611)