Effects of multigenerational cadmium exposure of insects ( Spodoptera exigua larvae) on anti-oxidant response in haemolymph and developmental parameters

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2012-03, Vol.162, p.8-14
• Main Authors: Kafel, Alina, Zawisza-Raszka, Agnieszka, Szulińska, Elżbieta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Anti-oxidant response; Antioxidants - metabolism; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; body weight; cadmium; Cadmium - metabolism; Cadmium - pharmacology; correlation; diet; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Glutathione; glutathione transferase; Haemolymph; hemolymph; Hemolymph - drug effects; Hemolymph - metabolism; Insecta; insects; instars; Invertebrates; Larva - drug effects; Larva - growth & development; Larva - metabolism; larvae; Male; Metal tolerance; mortality; Multigenerational exposure; oxidation; Spodoptera - drug effects; Spodoptera - growth & development; Spodoptera - metabolism; Spodoptera exigua; Techniques; thiols
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.09.034

Biochemical and organismal indices of metal tolerance were studied in Spodoptera exigua exposed to a cadmium-contaminated diet for one or many (33 or 61) generations. Reduced and oxidised glutathione, protein thiols, total anti-oxidant capacity level, glutathione transferase activity, and Cd accumulation were assayed in the haemolymph of the last instar larvae. The cadmium concentration in the whole larval body as well as larval survival, larval duration time and last instar body weight were also measured. Elevated cadmium concentration in the whole body, higher mortality and longer duration of the larval stage in one-generation exposed insects in comparison with those exposed for many generations suggest that metal tolerance builds over time. For the larvae from multigeneration metal treatment, the higher cadmium concentration in larval haemolymph positively correlated with glutathione oxidation and total anti-oxidant capacity. One-generation exposed insects had lower metal concentration in haemolymph than did 33-generation exposed insects. ► Effects of multigenerational Cd exposure on Spodoptera exigua larvae were assessed. ► Larvae from one-generation rearing were less tolerant than those from longer rearing. ► The former had lower survival, longer larval duration and higher Cd concentration. ► The latter had higher Cd concentration in haemolymph. ► Cd concentration correlated with some indices of oxidative stress in the haemolymph. Multigenerational cadmium treatment affects metal tolerance, concomitant with anti-oxidant response and cadmium accumulation in larval haemolymph.