The contamination of coastal regions with different toxicants, including heavy metal ions such as copper and cadmium jeopardize health and survival of organisms exposed to this habitat. To study the effects of high copper and cadmium concentrations in these marine environments, we used the flatworm Macrostomum lignano as a model. This platyhelminth lives in shallow coastal water and is exposed to high concentrations of all toxicants that accumulate in these sea floors. We could show that both, cadmium and copper show toxicity at higher concentrations, with copper being more toxic than cadmium. At concentrations below acute toxicity, a reduced long-term survival was observed for both metal ions. The effects of sublethal doses comprise reduced physical activities, an increase in ROS levels within the worms, and alterations of the mitochondrial biology. Moreover, cell death events were substantially increased in response to sublethal concentrations of both metal ions and stem cell activity was reduced following exposure to higher cadmium concentrations. Finally, the expression of several genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism was substantially altered by this intervention. Taken together, M. lignano has been identified as a suitable model for marine toxicological studies as it allows to quantify several relevant life-history traits as well as of physiological and behavioral read-outs.

中文翻译：

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铜和镉的施用在海洋扁虫Macrostomum lignano中引起毒性和氧化应激。

沿海地区受到不同毒物的污染，包括铜和镉等重金属离子，危及暴露于该栖息地的生物的健康和生存。为了研究高铜和镉浓度在这些海洋环境中的影响，我们使用扁虫Macrostomum lignano作为模型。该蠕虫生活在浅海沿岸，并暴露于这些海床中积聚的高浓度所有有毒物质。我们可以证明，镉和铜在较高浓度下均显示出毒性，其中铜的毒性比镉高。在低于急性毒性的浓度下，两种金属离子的长期存活率均降低。亚致死剂量的作用包括减少身体活动，提高蠕虫内ROS含量，和线粒体生物学的改变。此外，响应于两种金属离子的致死浓度，细胞死亡事件显着增加，暴露于较高的镉浓度后，干细胞活性降低。最终，通过这种干预，与异种生物代谢有关的几个基因的表达被大大改变。综上所述，M。lignano被确定为海洋毒理学研究的合适模型，因为它可以量化一些相关的生命历史特征以及生理和行为方面的数据。通过这种干预，与异种生物代谢有关的几个基因的表达被大大改变。综上所述，M。lignano被确定为海洋毒理学研究的合适模型，因为它可以量化一些相关的生命历史特征以及生理和行为方面的数据。通过这种干预，与异种生物代谢有关的几个基因的表达被大大改变。综上所述，M。lignano被确定为海洋毒理学研究的合适模型，因为它可以量化一些相关的生命历史特征以及生理和行为方面的数据。