Assessment of stress biomarkers responses in mantle and adductor muscles of Mactra stultorum following lead exposure

The objective of the present work is to evaluate the possible toxic effect engendered by graded doses of lead chloride (PbCl 2 ) on Mactra stultorum mantle and adductor muscles through a battery of biomarkers responses. M. stultorum were divided into 4 groups and exposed to three concentrations of PbCl 2 (D1:1mg/L, D2: 2.5 mg/L and D3: 5 mg/L) with control during five days. Our findings showed decreases of lipid contents in both organs following PbCl 2 exposure, while, proteins declined only in the adductor muscles of the treated M. stultorum. During our experiment, the PbCl 2 exposure induced the levels of metallothionein (MTs), malondialdehyde (MDA) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in both organs as compared to the control. These biomarkers responses are distinctly different between mantle and adductor muscles.