Characterization of cadmium plasma membrane transport in gills of a mangrove crab Ucides cordatus.

Membrane pathway for intracellular cadmium (Cd(2+)) accumulation is not fully elucidated in many organisms and has not been studied in crab gill cells. To characterize membrane Cd(2+) transport of anterior and posterior gill cells of Ucides cordatus, a hypo-hyper-regulating crab, a change in intracellular Cd(2+) concentration under various experimental conditions was examined by using FluoZin, a fluorescent probe. The membrane Cd(2+) transport was estimated by the augmentation of FluoZin fluorescence induced by extracellular application of CdCl2 and different inhibitors. Addition of extracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) to the cells affected little the fluorescence of FluoZin, confirming that Cd(2+) was the main ion increasing intracellular fluorescence. Ca(2+) channels blockers (nimodipine and verapamil) decreased Cd(2+) influx as well as vanadate, a Ca(2+)-ATPase blocker. Chelating intracellular Ca(2+) (BAPTA) decreased Cd(2+) influx in gill cells, while increasing intracellular Ca(2+) (caffeine) augmented Cd influx. Cd(2+) and ATP added at different temporal conditions were not effective at increasing intracellular Cd(2+) accumulation. Ouabain (Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase inhibitor) increased Cd(2+) influx probably through a change in intracellular Na and/or a change in cell membrane potential. Routes of Cd(2+) influx, a non-essential metal, through the gill cell plasma membrane of crabs are suggested.