Some quantitative aspects of oxygen consumption and anaerobic metabolism of molluscan tissues--a review

Effects of copper exposure on the energy metabolism in juveniles of the marine clam Mesodesma mactroides

In freshwater osmoregulating mollusks, Cu can cause toxicity by inducing ionoregulatory disturbances. In mussels, it inhibits the activity of key enzymes involved in Na(+) uptake and consequently induces ionic and osmotic disturbances. In snails, Cu induces disruption of the Ca(2+) homeostasis leading to effects in shell deposition and snail growth. However, the mechanisms involved in Cu toxicity in osmoconforming sweater mollusks remain unclear. Recent findings from our laboratory have suggested that Cu toxicity in marine invertebrates can be associated with both ionic and respiratory disturbances. In the present study, metabolic changes induced by waterborne Cu exposure were evaluated in the osmoconforming clam Mesodesma mactroides, a bivalve species widely distributed along the South American sandy beaches. Juvenile clams were kept under control conditions (no Cu addition in the water) or acutely (96h) exposed to Cu (96-h LC10=150μgL(-1)) in artificial seawater (30ppt). ATP, protein, lipid, glycogen and glucose contents were analyzed in gills, digestive gland, pedal muscle and hemolymph. Dinucleotide (NAD(+) and NADH) content was also analyzed in gills, digestive gland and pedal muscle while pyruvate and lactate content was determined in pedal muscle and hemolymph. In all tissues analyzed, Cu exposure did not affect ATP content and NAD(+)/NADH ratio, except in the hemolymph, where a decrease in ATP content was observed. These findings indicate that clam cells, except those from hemolymph, were able to maintain a constant level of free energy. A significant increase in total protein content was observed in the digestive gland, which could be a compensatory mechanism to counteract the higher level of protein oxidation previously observed in M. mactroides exposed to Cu under the same experimental conditions. Finally, reduced glucose content in the pedal muscle paralleled by increased lactate content in the pedal muscle and hemolymph was observed in Cu-exposed clams. Overall, these findings indicate that Cu exposure is leading to an increased reliance upon the anaerobic energy production to maintain the overall cellular ATP production in the clam M. mactroides.

Pigment alterations in the brown mussel Perna perna

Potential sex and/or gametogenic stage differences in the metabolism of chlorophyll-a and carotenoids in the brown mussel Perna perna of southern Brazil were studied using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Carotenoids derived directly from diet (phytoplankton) were fucoxanthin plus diatoxanthin (diatoms), alloxanthin (cryptophytes) and zeaxanthin (mainly cyanobacteria). Females accumulated carotenoid-diols and epoxides (~3-4 mg/g-dry wt.) while males had much lower concentrations (~0.7 mg/g-dry wt.). An antioxidant/free radical scavenging role is proposed for carotenoids in females. Mean ratios of chlorophyll plus derivatives (Chlns-a) to carotenoids for male and female P. perna were 50:1 and 4:1, respectively. The higher ratio in males relates to both higher carotenoid contents in females plus higher total Chlns-a in males (~22 mg/g-dry wt.), relative to the females (~4 mg/g-dry wt.). Chlorophyll-a metabolism in both sexes followed two distinct pathways. First, cyclization of pyropheophorbide-a gave 13(2), 17(3)-cyclopheophorbide-a-enol (CPPaE) which was further oxidized to hydroxy-chlorophyllone. Second, chlorophyll-a derivatives retaining the 13(2)-carbomethoxy moiety were oxidized to purpurin-18 which was hydrolyzed to chlorin-p(6). In both cases, metabolism of dietary chlorophyll-a was oxidative and derivatives could either serve as antioxidants or merely be the results of non-specific digestive processes.

Histochemical research on metabolic pathways of glucose in some species of Mollusca Gastropoda

The metabolic pathways of glucose were studied by histochemical reactions in some species of gastropods living in different habitats. The glycolytic pathway is histochemically indicated by positive results for glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, fructose-1,6-biphosphate aldolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and D-lactate dehydrogenase. The enzymes of the Krebs cycle gave different responses: isocitrate dehydrogenase and L-malate dehydrogenase were positive, whilst succinate dehydrogenase was constantly negative. Malate synthetase activity was also demonstrated. Despite L-glutamate dehydrogenase is undetectable, the presence of transaminase indicates the gluconeogenetic route. Phosphoglucomutase and glucose-6-phosphate phosphatase appear also positive. The metabolic meaning of our results were discussed.