Protective role of metallothionein during regeneration in Eisenia andrei exposed to cadmium

Lumbricid earthworms are often exposed to simultaneous action of various environmental stressors like soil contamination, temperature fluctuation or predators' attacks, which may induce extrusion of coelomocyte-containing coelomic fluid or loss of tail segments. If the injuries are not lethal, renewal of the immune-competent cells and soluble components of coelomic fluid and/or the regeneration of tail segments occurs. The aim of our investigations was to test the hypothesis that exposure of adult earthworms Eisenia andrei to cadmium-polluted soil at room temperature (RT) and/or low temperature (6 °C) have adverse effects on restoration of experimentally depleted coelomocytes or on regeneration of amputated posterior segments. Intact control earthworms and their experimental counterparts subjected to electrostimulation-induced coelomocyte depletion or surgical amputation of posterior segments were maintained either in control soil or in soil spiked with cadmium chloride (500 mg/kg air-dried soil) at RT or 6 °C. Four weeks after the beginning of experiments, cadmium accumulation in earthworm bodies was significantly lower at 6 °C than at room temperature. The numbers of restored cells and fluorophore contents were hardly affected by temperature or cadmium. However, cocoon production was reduced by cadmium and completely abolished at 6 °C and regeneration of amputated posterior segments was inhibited in cold but was enhanced by cadmium exposure at RT. Independently on the temperature, the 4-week cadmium exposure of adult earthworms was connected with significantly upregulated expression of Cd-metallothionein (but not of catalase, lysenin and phytochelatin) in coelomocytes.