Effects of cadmium in freshwater clams. III. Interaction with energy metabolism inAnodonta cygnea.

Freshwater clams,Anodonta cygnea, were exposed to cadmium, at 50 ppb (μg/L), to investigate the effects of semi-chronic exposure on energy metabolism. Parameters examined included: adenylate energy charge (AEC), glycogen content, blood glucose and protein concentration, the accumulation of anaerobic metabolic end products,viz. lactate and succinate, and mitochondrial NADH-oxidase activity. In all tissues, AEC was significantly lowered after 12 weeks. Glycogen contents of the separate organs, except for the gills, were diminished to one half those of control animals. Hemolymph glucose increased between 4 and 8 weeks, whereas protein in hemolymph steadily decreased, to about one half the concentration of controls at 12 weeks. Lactate increased in mantle and midgut gland, whereas in gill only an initial accumulation was found after 2 weeks of exposure. Succinate concentrations increased in all organs between 4 and 8 weeks of Cd exposure. Thereafter, no further accumulation occurred. From the onset of exposure to cadmium there was a gradual reduction of NADH-oxidase activity of gill mitochondria, down to 60% of the control value after 12 weeks. The data indicate an impairment of oxidative carbohydrate metabolism that is brought about by a metabolic blockade, rather than by (partial) anaerobiosis as a consequence of shell closure.