In vivo variation of some biomarkers with time and cadmium concentration in the cockle Cerastoderma glaucum

Abstract The aim of this work was to detect in vivo effects of cadmium on marine organisms Cerastoderma glaucum and to determine the optimal conditions for the metallothionein-like protein (MTLP) induction in this species under laboratory conditions. The cockles Cerastoderma glaucum were exposed in vivo to different cadmium concentrations (50, 75, 100 and 150 µg L−1). Stress on stress test, cadmium, metallothionein-like protein (MTLP), malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein levels were measured after 5, 10, 15 and 20 days of metal exposure. The results showed that the CdCl2 concentrations of 50 µg L−1 for 15 days as well as 150 µg L−1 for 10 days provoked the highest MTLP induction. Nevertheless, the results obtained by the MDA, protein quantification and the stress on stress test showed that animals exposed to 50 µg L−1 for 15 days were in a better health status than those exposed to 150 µg L−1 CdCl2 for 10 days.