Characterization of cadmium transport in hepatopancreatic cells of a mangrove crab Ucides cordatus: The role of calcium.

Cadmium is a toxic metal, present in batteries and discarded in estuaries and mangrove habitats. Apart from that, it is a non-essential metal that causes toxic effects in many organisms. Cadmium accumulates in gills and hepatopancreas of crustaceans and its route into the cell is unknown. It is possible that occurs by calcium channels or calcium transporters. The objective of this study was to characterize the transport of cadmium and the role of calcium in different cell types from hepatopancreas of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus. For this, the hepatopancreas was dissociated by magnetic stirring and after that separated by a sucrose gradient. Then, the cells were labeled with FluoZin-3 AM and different CdCl concentrations were added together with a variety of inhibitors. The results showed that Cd transport occurs differently in each cell type from hepatopancreas and is partially explained by the function the cells perform in this organ. Embryonic (E) and Resorptive (R) cells transported more Cd compared to Fibrillar (F) and Blister (B) cells. R cells responded to Ca channel inhibitors and intracellular Ca manipulations positively, as the other cell types and in a stronger way. B cells were the least responsive to Ca channel inhibitors and, unlike the other cells, showed a competition of Cd with intracellular Ca manipulations. The results indicate that Ca affects the transport of Cd in hepatopancreatic cells of Ucides cordatus and uses Ca channels to enter these cells. In addition, information about Ca concentration could be used as a mitigating factor for Cd accumulation in crabs' hepatopancreas.