Tissues and hair residues and histopathology in wild rats (Rattus rattus L.) and Algerian mice (Mus spretus Lataste) from an abandoned mine area (Southeast Portugal)

Abstract

Data gathered in this study suggested the exposure of rats and Algerian mice, living in an abandoned mining area, to a mixture of heavy metals. Although similar histopathological features were recorded in the liver and spleen of both species, the Algerian mouse has proved to be the strongest bioaccumulator species. Hair was considered to be a good biological material to monitor environmental contamination of Cr in rats. Significant positive associations were found between the levels of this element in hair/kidney (r=0.826, n=9, p<0.01) and hair/liver (r=0.697, n=9, p=0.037). Although no association was found between the levels of As recorded in the hair and in the organs, the levels of this element recorded in the hair, of both species, were significantly higher in animals captured in the mining area, which met the data from the organs analysed. Nevertheless, more studies will be needed to reduce uncertainty about cause-effect relationships.

Apoptosis, metallothionein, and bioavailable metals in domestic mice (Mus musculus L.) from a human-inhabited volcanic area

“…In the liver and kidney of mice from the volcanic active area, the levels of those elements were so high that in the case of Pb they were very close to the ones found in bank voles from an abandoned lead mine in UK, and in mice and rats from a sulfur mine in Portugal mainland. In the case of Cd and Zn, levels found in the liver and kidney were 10-30 times and 2-6 times, respectively, higher to those of rodents from the abandoned mines mentioned before (Milton et al 2003; Viegas-Crespo et al Pereira et al 2006). The very high levels of Al, Cd, Pb, and Zn in mice from Furnas may result from the ingestion of food or soil rich in those metals but also from the inhalation of volcanic gases and aerosols that transport those elements (Durand and Grattan 1999;Ferreira and Oskarsson 1999;Durand et al 2004), as confirmed by the high levels found in the lung.…”

“…These proteins are involved in the homeostasis and storage of copper and zinc, and play a protective role against the toxic effects of heavy metals, making them inactive and promoting their excretion (Kägi and Kojima 1987;Kägi and Schaffer 1988;Roesijadi 1994;Nordberg 1998;Binz and Kägi 1999). Therefore, cellular and tissue injuries, apoptosis and metallothionein expression may eventually be considered important biomarkers of the effects induced by chronic exposure to metals in natural conditions (Wlostowski et al 2000;Amaral and Rodrigues 2005;Amaral et al 2006b;Pereira et al 2006).…”

“…One example of natural input of metals in soil, water, and air is volcanic activity, which may manifest through lava emissions, degassing soils, and hydrothermal sources, and is responsible for the presence of metals in those media, as particles or associated with gases (Ferreira and Oskarsson 1999;Delmelle and Stix 2000;Kelepertsis et al 2001;Durand et al 2004;Hansell et al 2006). Accumulation of trace metals in different tissues and organs of terrestrial invertebrates (Heikens et al 2001;Lock and Janssen 2001;Amaral and Rodrigues 2005;Amaral et al 2006b) and vertebrates (Wlostowski et al 2000;Pereira et al 2006) exposed to natural and anthropogenic sources of these elements has been reported in many previous studies. For this reason, wild animals have been used to evaluate exposures to inorganic contaminants, and data collected from these animals are considered very useful for human and environmental health risk assessment.…”

Comparative Analysis of Informativity of Diagnostic Biosubstrates (Blood Serum and Deckhair) When Determining Element Status of Experimental Animals

“…В последние годы в физиологических исследованиях в качестве неинвазивного метода оценки элемент-ного статуса применяется определение содержания химических элементов в волосах человека (Ревич, 1996;Скальный и др., 2012;Луговая, Максимов, 2012;Мирошников и др., 2012;Momcilovic et al, 2014) и шерсти у животных (крысы) (Скальный и др., 1990;Pereira et al, 2006;Lesage et al, 2010). Например, для определения элементного статуса организма животных (КРС − крупный рогатый скот) в качестве тест-объекта С.П.…”

Distribution of Heavy Metals in the Liver of Foetuses and Female Mice after Oral Administration during Pregnancy - a Histochemical Study

“…Accumulation of heavy metals in parenchymatous organs of animals living in contaminated environment was described in detail in the literature. These studies reveal that heavy metals mainly accumulate in the liver (Plaa and Hewitt 1998;Garipay et al 2003;Pereira et al 2006;Stoltenberg et al 2003;Sween 2007).…”