Multi-instrumental investigation of affecting of early somatic embryos of spruce by cadmium(II) and lead(II) ions

Abstract

The main aim of our work was to utilize multi-instrumental analytical apparatus to investigate the affecting of early somatic embryos of Spruces (ESEs) treated by cadmium(II) and/or lead(II) ions (50, 250 and 500 μM) for twelve days. Primarily we utilized the image analysis for estimation of growth and the fluorimetric sensor for enzymatic detection of viability of the treated ESEs. It follows from the results obtained that cadmium embodied higher toxicity to ESEs than lead. Besides this fundamental finding we observed that ESEs grew and developed better in the presence of 500 CM of the metal ions than in the presence of 250 M. Based on the results obtained using nuclear magnetic resonance this phenomenon relates with increase of ESEs clusters area by intensive uptake of water from cultivation medium due to dilution of heavy metal concentration inside the cluster. In addition we studied the content of glutathione in treated ESEs by adsorptive transfer stripping technique coupled with differential pulse voltammetry Brdicka reaction. GSH content increased up to 148 ng/mg (clone 2/32) and 158 ng/mg (clone PE 14) after twelve days long treatment by Cd-EDTA ions. The GSH content was about 150 and 160 % higher in comparison with the ESEs treated by Pb-EDTA ions, respectively. The difference between GSH contents determined in ESEs treated with Pb-EDTA and Cd-EDTA ions relates with higher toxicity of cadmium(II) ions. © 2006 by MDPI.