Mercury levels in blood, urine and hair in a nation-wide sample of Spanish adults

Mercury (Hg) is among the top 10 environmental chemicals of major public health concern (WHO). The Minamata Convention on Mercury (United Nations Environment Program, 2017), commits signing countries to control anthropogenic mercury emissions and reduce human exposure. Human biomonitoring (HBM) programs, are the most straight-forward approaches to get information on the actual exposure levels in the population and assess over time. We report here the results of a HBM study in a nationwide cross-section of Spanish adults (18-65y) as baseline values obtained before the Minamata Convention entered into force. Subsequent follow-ups will show if the Convention has been successful. The study includes 1880 blood samples, 1704 urine samples and 577 hair samples from all Spanish regions collected and analysed under a strictly quality controlled and quality assured protocol. The EU-DEMOCOPHES project demonstrated that fish and seafood are the major sources of mercury exposure and that the Spanish as well as the Portuguese populations have higher levels than other European countries. The data from the present study confirms this pattern at national level and that inhabitants in coastal regions have higher values than from inland regions. The geometric mean (GM) for blood is 6.35 μg Hg/l, in urine is 1.11 μg Hg/l and for hair is 1.91 μg Hg/g. In an international comparison these values are not exceptional. Spanish concentrations fall into the group of Easter Mediterranean populations. Although information on gender, age, occupational sector, geographical area, sampling period and frequency of fish consumption is reported in the tables, the purpose of this paper has not been to analyse the determinants of exposure in detail but to provide baseline data for future assessments and for regional authorities.

7-Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase induction in rainbow trout gill epithelium cultured on permeable supports: asymmetrical distribution of substrate metabolites

The induction of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) has been measured in cultured epithelia from rainbow trout gills. Epithelia incubated with water on the apical side and culture media at the basolateral side were exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), beta-naphthoflavone (betaNF), benzo[k]fluoranthene (B(k)F), and 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB#126) from the water. EROD activity was measured as the formation of resorufin from 7-ethoxyresorufin over time in intact epithelia. The EC(50) values obtained after 24 h of exposure (mean+/-S.D.) were for TCDD (n=9) 4.1+/-3.2x10(-11) M, for betaNF (n=6) 1.6+/-3.8x10(-9) M, for B(k)F (n=4) 5.4+/-3.0x10(-9) M and for PCB#126 (n=4) 6.15+/-10.1x10(-9) M. When assaying for EROD activity, it was found that the resorufin concentrations differed between the apical and the basolateral compartments, indicating an asymmetrical distribution of the enzymatically formed resorufin molecules. Generally, the resorufin concentration was highest in the basolateral compartment, but there were differences between epithelia obtained from different fish individuals. Of a total of 13 preparations 10 had the highest resorufin concentration in the basolateral compartment, while in three preparations, the resorufin was uniformly distributed or slightly higher in the apical compartment. The reasons for this asymmetrical distribution of substrate metabolites are not known, and the addition of multidrug resistance inhibitors (verapamil and cyclosporin A) did not alter the asymmetrical pattern. The transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) was also measured to diagnose the tightness of the epithelia. The change from culture media to experimental water (containing TCDD, betaNF, or DMSO as control) in the apical compartment resulted in a large increase in TER, followed by a decline, measured after 24 h. The cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) inducers had no effect on the TER and were judged, therefore, not to affect the tightness of the epithelia.

Procedures for the preparation and culture of 'reconstructed' rainbow trout branchial epithelia

Techniques for the in vitro 'reconstruction' of freshwater rainbow trout branchial epithelia using the primary culture of gill cells on permeable polyethylene terephthalate cell culture filter supports are described. Representing models of the freshwater fish gill, epithelia grown by two separate techniques are composed of branchial pavement cells with or without the inclusion of mitochondria-rich (MR) cells. The generation of epithelia consisting of pavement cells only (via a method called single seeded inserts = SSI) involves an initial period of flask culture during which time MR cells, that appear unable to attach to the culture flask base, are excluded from the general cell populace. Alternately, the generation of a heterogeneous epithelia consisting of both pavement cells and MR cells (via a method called double seeded inserts = DSI) is facilitated by the direct seeding of cells into cell culture filter inserts. Critical to this second procedure is the repeat seeding of filter inserts over a two day period. Repeat seeding appears to allow MR cells to nest amongst the attached cell layer generated by the first day's seeding. The use of cell culture filter supports allows free access to both the apical and basolateral compartment of the epithelium and is ideal for experimental manipulation. Cells are grown under symmetrical conditions (apical media/basolateral media) and epithelium growth is measured as a function of transepithelial resistance (TER). When the epithelia exhibit a plateau in growth they can be subjected to asymmetrical conditions (freshwater apical/media basolateral) in order to assess gill cell function as in vivo.

Transport properties of cultured branchial epithelia from freshwater rainbow trout: a novel preparation with mitochondria-rich cells

A new double-seeded insert (DSI) technique is described for culture of branchial epithelial preparations from freshwater rainbow trout on filter supports. DSI epithelia contain both pavement cells and mitochondria-rich (MR) cells (15.7+/−2.5 % of total cell numbers). MR cells occur singly or in clusters, are voluminous, open apically to the ‘external environment’ and exhibit ultrastructural characteristics similar to those found in the ‘chloride cells’ of freshwater fish gills. After 6–9 days in culture with Leibovitz's L-15 medium on both surfaces (symmetrical conditions), transepithelial resistance (TER) stabilized at values as high as 34 k capomega cm(2), indicative of electrically ‘tight’ epithelia. The density of MR cells, the surface area of their clusters and transepithelial potential (TEP; up to +8 mV basolateral positive, mean +1.9+/−0.2 mV) were all positively correlated with TER. In contrast, preparations cultured using an earlier single-seeded insert (SSI) technique contained only pavement cells and exhibited a negligible TEP under symmetrical conditions. Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activities of DSI preparations were comparable with those in gill filaments, but did not differ from those of SSI epithelia. Replacement of the apical medium with fresh water to mimic the in vivo situation (asymmetrical conditions) induced a negative TEP (−6 to −15 mV) and increased permeability to the paracellular marker PEG-4000. Under symmetrical conditions, unidirectional Na(+) and Cl(−) fluxes were in balance, and there was no active transport by the Ussing flux ratio criterion. Under asymmetrical conditions, there were large effluxes, small influxes and evidence for active Cl(−) uptake and Na(+) extrusion. Unidirectional Ca(2+) fluxes were only 0.5-1.0 % of Na(+) and Cl(−) fluxes; active net Ca(2+) uptake occurred under symmetrical conditions and active net extrusion under asymmetrical conditions. Thus, DSI epithelia exhibit some of the features of the intact gill, but improvements in culture conditions are needed before the MR cells will function as true freshwater ‘chloride cells’.

Intracellular pH regulation and buffer capacity in CO2/HCO3-buffered media in cultured epithelial cells from rainbow trout gills

The influence of a CO2/HCO3(-)-buffered medium on intracellular pH regulation of gill pavement cells from freshwater rainbow trout was examined in monolayers grown in primary culture on glass coverslips; intracellular pH (pHi) was monitored by continuous spectrofluorometric recording from cells loaded with 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxy-fluoroscein. When cells in HEPES-buffered medium at normal pH = 7.70 were transferred to normal CO2/HCO3(-)-buffered medium ¿PCO2 = 3.71 mmHg, [HCO3-] = 6.1 mmol l(-1), extracellular pH (pHe) = 7.70¿, they exhibited a brief acidosis but subsequently regulated the same pHi (approximately 7.41) as in HEPES. Buffer capacity (beta) increased by the expected amount (5.5-8.0 slykes) based on intracellular [HCO3-], and was unaffected by most drugs and treatments. However, after transfer to high PCO2 = 11.15 mmHg, [HCO3-] = 18.2 mmol l(-1) at the same pHe = 7.70, the final regulated pHi was elevated (approximately 7.53). The rate of correction of alkalosis caused by washout of this high PCO2, high-HCO3- medium was unaffected by removal of extracellular Cl-. Removal of extracellular Na + lowered resting pHi and greatly inhibited the rate of pHi recovery from acidosis. Bafilomycin A1 (3 micromol l(-1)) had no effect on these responses. However amiloride (0.2 mmol l(-1)) inhibited recovery from acidosis caused by washout of an ammonia prepulse, but did not affect resting pHi, the latter differing from the response in HEPES where amiloride also lowered resting pHi. Similarly 4-acetamido-4'- isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, sodium salt (0. 1 mmol l(-1)) did not affect resting pHi but slowed the rate of recovery from acidosis, though to a lesser extent than amiloride. Removal of extracellular Cl(-1) also slowed the rate of recovery but greatly increased beta by an unknown mechanism; when this was taken into account, H+ extrusion rate was unaffected. These results are consistent with the presence of Na+ -(HCO3)N co-transport and/or Na+-dependent HCO3(-)/Cl(-) exchange, in addition to Na+/H+ exchange, as mechanisms contributing to "housekeeping" pHi regulation in gill cells in CO2/HCO3(-) media, whereas only Na+/H+ exchange is seen in HEPES. Both Na(+)-independent Cl-/HCO3(-) exchange and V-type H(+)-ATPase mechanisms appear to be absent from these cells cultured in isotonic media.

Xenobiotic and steroid biotransformation activities in rainbow trout gill epithelial cells in culture

The biotransformation of xenobiotics and steroids was investigated in cultured respiratory epithelial cells from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gills. As a first approach, ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), chosen as a marker of CYP1A activity, was measured in monolayers of adherent cells. The induction of this enzyme was studied in cells exposed to beta-naphthoflavone (BNF) or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in concentrations ranging from 10(-6) to 10(-12) M. After 24 h, TCDD showed a maximal induction at a concentration of 10(-9) M while BNF showed a maximal induction at a concentration of 10(-7) M. Concurrently, a variety of substrates involved in cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism as well as phase II reactions, namely ethoxycoumarin, aniline and testosterone were incubated with cultured gill cells for 2 or 8 h and with freshly isolated hepatocytes for comparison. Our results revealed a significant cytochrome P450-dependent activity in gill cells with ethoxycoumarin and aniline, but no hydroxylation was observed with testosterone as substrate. No trace of sulfate conjugate was detected. With 2.5 µM aniline as substrate, 2-hydroxyaniline accounted for 32.1% of the radioactivity after 2 h incubation whereas acetanilide amounted to 6.4%. Significant differences were found between gill cells and isolated hepatocytes in the capacity of these systems to conduct oxidative and conjugating metabolic pathways. Qualitatively, the main difference was observed for testosterone which is hydroxylated in position 6beta and 16beta and conjugated to glucuronic acid in liver cells, whereas reductive biotransformation giving rise to dihydrotestosterone and androstanediol and traces of androstenedione were observed in gill cells. Quantitatively, the biotransformation activity in gill epithelial cells, expressed as pmol/h per mg protein, was between 1.5 and 14% of the activity level observed in isolated hepatocytes, depending on the substrate.

Urea and water permeability in the ureotelic gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta)

The permeability of toadfish gills and skin to urea and water has been measured in order to investigate the mechanisms behind the pulsatile excretion of urea previously described in this species. A perfused gill preparation was used in the gill studies and isolated pieces of skin mounted in an Ussing chamber in the skin studies. Simultaneously, urea and water permeability was measured in vivo in free swimming fish. In vivo the nonpulsing urea permeability was exceptionally low compared to other teleosts, while the tritiated water permeability was similar to that of other teleosts. The urea permeability increased 30-fold during a pulse while water permeability stayed unaffected. Compared to in vivo, tritiated water permeability was approximately 50% lower in the gills and the skin when measured directly in the isolated preparations. The urea permeability was almost identical between the three preparations. Four out of 20 perfused gill preparation showed a spontaneous urea pulse during perfusion. Several treatments were tested to elicit the pulse artificially but without success. Hormones and drugs tested were: arginine-vasotocin (AVT), 10(-10) M; adrenaline, 10(-7) M; isoprenaline, 10(-5) M; acetylcholine, 10(-7) and 10(-6) M; serotonin, 10(-7) and 10(-6) M; adenosine, 10(-6) M; cortisol, 10(-7) M; and combinations of AVT, adrenaline, and cortisol. Adrenaline and isoprenaline increased tritiated water permeability without affecting urea permeability. Gradually increasing the ammonia levels in the perfusate from 0.1 mM to 1.6 mM caused a slight increase in water permeability but a marked and progressive increase in urea permeability. No indications of an ammonia trapping mechanism in the gills were found. There was no effect of AVT (10(-10) mol l-1) in the urea permeability of the skin preparation while cortisol (10(-7) M) led to a modest increase in urea permeability. Based on a comparison between the in vivo and in vitro preparations used here, we conclude that the urea pulse in a urea-pulsing toadfish occurs through the gills and not the skin. We still do not know which internal mechanism or signal triggers the urea pulse in the toadfish.

Nitrogen excretion and the cardiorespiratory physiology of the gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta

Gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta, are facultatively ureotelic and can excrete the majority of their nitrogenous waste as urea. Urea excretion occurs in "pulses." The hypothesis that pulsatile urea excretion reflects sudden, transient, generalized increases in the branchial conductance was investigated by the simultaneous monitoring of cardiorespiratory variables, oxygen uptake, and whole-body urea, ammonia, and/or 3H2O effluxes. The direct monitoring of both expired branchial water and water exiting a respirometer demonstrated that urea pulses were derived from the gills. No significant changes in ventilation or cardiac frequency, oxygen uptake, or ammonia efflux were observed during natural urea pulses, refuting the hypothesis that pulsatile urea excretion reflects pulsatile increases in the generalized diffusive properties of the gill for solute transfer. An alternative model for pulsatile urea excretion postulates that the gill urea permeability is increased periodically by the insertion and/or activation of specific urea transporters into gill cell membranes. Pulsatile urea excretion was abolished by pretreatment with the cytoskeletal-disrupting agent colchicine; colchicine may block trafficking of urea transporter-containing vesicles. Exocytosis of water following the fusion of vesicles with gill cell membranes could explain the significantly elevated 3H2O efflux observed during urea pulses.

Passive and active transport properties of a gill model, the cultured branchial epithelium of the freshwater rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Branchial epithelia of freshwater rainbow trout were cultured on permeable supports, polyethylene terephthalate membranes ("filter inserts"), starting from dispersed gill epithelial cells in primary culture. Leibowitz L-15 media plus foetal bovine serum and glutamine, with an ionic composition similar to trout extracellular fluid, was used. After 6 days of growth on the filter insert with L-15 present on both apical and basolateral surfaces, the cultured preparations exhibited stable transepithelial resistances (generally 1000-5000 ohms cm2) typical of an electrically tight epithelium. Under these symmetrical conditions, transepithelial potential was zero, and unidirectional fluxes of Na+ and Cl- across the epithelium and permeability to the paracellular marker polyethylene glycol-4000 (PEG) were equal in both directions. Na+ and Cl- fluxes were similar to one another and linearly related to conductance (inversely related to resistance) in a manner indicative of fully conductive passive transport. Upon exposure to apical fresh water, transepithelial resistance increased greatly and a basolateral-negative transepithelial potential developed. At the same time, however, PEG permeability and unidirectional effluxes of Na+ and Cl- increased. Thus, total conductance fell, and ionic fluxes and paracellular permeability per unit conductance all increased greatly, consistent with a scenario whereby transcellular conductance decreases but paracellular permeability increases upon dilution of the apical medium. In apical fresh water, there was a net loss of ions from the basolateral to apical surfaces as effluxes greatly exceeded influxes. However, application of the Ussing flux ratio criterion, in two separate series involving different methods for measuring unidirectional fluxes, revealed active influx of Cl- against the electrochemical gradient but passive movement of Na+. The finding is surprising because the cultured epithelium appears to consist entirely of pavement-type cells.

Urea and water permeability in dogfish (Squalus acanthias) gills

We used a perfused gill preparation from dogfish to investigate the origin of low branchial permeability to urea. Urea permeability (14C-urea) was measured simultaneously with diffusional water permeability (3H2O). Permeability coefficients for urea and ammonia in the perfused preparation were almost identical to in vivo values. The permeability coefficient of urea was 0.032 x 10(-6) cm/sec and of 3H2O 6.55 x 10(-6) cm/sec. Adrenalin (1 x 10(-6) M) increased water and ammonia effluxes by a factor of 1.5 and urea efflux by a factor of 3.1. Urea efflux was almost independent of the urea concentration in the perfusion medium. The urea analogue thiourea in the perfusate had no effect on urea efflux, whereas the non-competitive inhibitor of urea transport, phloretin, increased efflux markedly. The basolateral membrane is approximately 14 times more permeable to urea than the apical membrane. We conclude that the dogfish apical membrane is extremely tight to urea, but the low apparent branchial permeability may also relate to the presence of an active urea transporter on the basolateral membrane that returns urea to the blood and hence reduces the apical urea gradient.

Influence of water quality on the accumulation of methyl 203mercury in gill tissue of minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus)

Effects of pH and concentrations of Cl and Ca on the uptake of methyl mercury (MeHg) in the gills of the minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) were studied. Chloride concentration and pH in the water affect the speciation of MeHg. Ca was included because it affects the permeability of the gills and could therefore indirectly affect the amount of MeHg accumulated in the tissue. The species formed differ in hydrophobicity, as reflected in their octanol/water partition coefficients (Pow). Both a reduction in pH and an increase in Cl- concentration increased the Pow of MeHg. Ca had no effect on speciation. The accumulation of MeHg in the gill tissue increased with decreasing pH (from pH 7.0 to pH 3.9). Accumulation also increased as Cl- concentrations were increased from 10(-7) to 10(-1) M at pH 7.0. An increase in Ca concentration did not alter the accumulation of MeHg beyond a decrease in MeHg accumulation as Ca increased from 20 to 50 microM. We conclude that, of the water-quality factors studied, those affecting chemical speciation were most important in determining the MeHg uptake. The Ca concentration appears to be of minor importance.

Allometry in the uptake of hydrophobic chemicals determined in vivo and in isolated perfused gills

Uptake rate constants of different classes of hydrophobic organic chemicals have been determined in isolated perfused gills of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) as an alternative for studies in vivo. The uptake rate constants have been compared to those determined in guppy, Poecilia reticulata, in vivo. The organic chemicals which have been used are anthracene, hexabromobenzene, octachloronaphthalene, octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, phenol, polychlorinated anisoles, polychlorinated benzenes, polychlorinated biphenyls, and tetrachloroveratrole. Uptake rate constants in guppy are higher than those in rainbow trout gills, and show relatively high variation in both gills and guppy. When uptake rate constants in each study are normalized for that of pentachlorobenzene (pCBz), variation is significantly reduced both in perfused gills and in guppy. All allometric relationship is derived between weight and uptake rate constant. Uptake rate constants determined in one fish can thus be used for prediction of those in other fishes. When a reference chemical, such as pCBz, is included, the gill perfusion experiments can be highly suitable to determine uptake rate constants of organic chemicals, which can be extrapolated to fish of different sizes.

Calmodulin-mediated cadmium inhibition of phosphodiesterase activity, in vitro

Ion-stripped bovine brain calmodulin (CaM) binds 4 moles Cd2+ as well as 4 moles Ca2+ per mole protein, with similar affinity; in the presence of 1 mM Mg2+ the molar binding ratio of CaM for Ca2+ decreased to 3, the apparent K0.5 for Ca2+ nearly doubled, but the binding characteristics of CaM for Cd2+ were not changed. Saturating concentrations Ca2+ did not affect the molar binding ratio of CaM for Cd2+, but increased the apparent K0.5 for Cd2+; vice versa, saturating concentrations Cd2+ decreased the molar binding ratio for Ca2+ to 2 without affecting the apparent K0.5 for Ca2+. CaM-independent phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity was inhibited at [Cd2+] greater than 10(-5) M. Cd2+-CaM as well as Ca2+-CaM activated PDE. However, the Cd2+-CaM complex is less effective than the Ca2+-CaM complex in stimulating CaM-dependent enzyme activities. Cd2+ inhibits Ca2+- and CaM-dependent PDE in a competitive way. Introduction of Cd2+ in a medium containing Ca2+ and CaM may, therefore, result in a reduction of CaM-dependent enzyme stimulation. By its interference with Ca2+- and CaM- dependent PDE activity, Cd2+ could upset the catabolic pathway of cellular cyclic nucleotide metabolism.

Diffusion of calcium, cadmium and mercury in a mucous solution from rainbow trout

Diffusion of calcium, cadmium and mercury was studied in a solution of mucus from rainbow trout. Diffusion rates for Cd and Hg were reduced by at least 50% when compared with that in a borate buffer solution. Calcium diffusion rate was unaffected by the presence of mucus. The effect of mucus on the diffusion rates is most likely the consequence of binding of the metals to the mucous proteins. Equilibrium dialysis studies of equimolar concentrations of the metals in a mucous solution demonstrated that about 50% of the Ca, 95% of the Cd and 99% of the Hg remained bound. The dissociation constants (Kd) for mucus and the metals are: 15 microM for Ca2+, 0.95 microM for Cd2+ and 0.33 microM for Hg2+. The significance of the results for uptake of these metals via the gills is discussed.

Oxygen transfer, gill resistance and structural changes in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri, Richardson) gills perfused with vasoactive agents

1. Gill resistance (Rg) and oxygen transfer (To2) were measured in perfused rainbow trout gills. After perfusion the gills were analysed morphometrically. 2. Rg increased with 40% and To2 decreased with 91% during 60 min perfusion without vasoactive substances in the perfusion Ringer. 3. In presence of 10 micro M adrenaline both Rg and To2 remained stable at their starting levels throughout the experimental period (60 min). 4. With 0.2 micro M acetylcholine and 10 micro M adrenaline in Ringer Rg increased nearby to the same extent as in perfusions without vasoactive agents, while To2 was not significantly affected. 1 micro M acetylcholine increased Rg with 76% and decreased To2 with 51%. 5. The changes in Rg and To2 could be explained by structural changes in the secondary lamellae.