Toxicity and uptake of zinc in the planarian Dugesia dorotocephala in natural sediments

摘要

Zinc uptake and protein, hemocianine, and metallothionein concentrations were studied in Dugesia dorotocephala exposed to Zn-spiked natural sediments in a recirculation system. Exposures to Zn ranged from 0.129 to 4.43 mg Zn/kg of sediment. Metallothionein and protein concentrations increased after treatment with Zn; however, the hemocianine concentration decreased. Metallothionein production could be an effective defense mechanism in planaria. The 96-h EC50 for Zn against D. dorotocephala was 12.52 mg Zn/kg of sediment.