Abstract

Strombidae are marine benthic Gastropods, in which few species represent a Caribbean staple food and important trade commodity like Strombus gigas (Linnaeus, 1758) and Strombus pugilis (Linnaeus, 1758). Recently, ultrastructural analyses of strombid digestive gland revealed the presence of spherocrystals in crypt cells of digestive tubules. Spherocrystals are known to be involved in the regulation of some minerals and in detoxification. We analyzed spherocrystals from freshly collected and from artificially exposed strombids. Individuals of S. pugilis were waterborne exposed using essential (CuSO4 and ZnSO4) and non-essential trace-metals (CdCl2 and Cd(NO3)2). Exposures via food were also tested using non-essential trace metals (CdCl2 and Pb(NO3) 2). After exposures, digestive glands were prepared for EDX analysis of spherocrystals under a SEM. Following elements were detected in spherocrystals from freshly collected individuals: Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, P and Zn. EDX analyses of spherocrystals from Cd and Pb exposed S. pugilis did not revealed the presence of these two elements. However, Cu and Zn were found in spherocrystals of individuals exposed with CuSO4 and ZnSO4. This study highlights that spherocrystals in Strombidae are not able to detoxify non-essential trace metals as Cd and Pb. However, we showed that spherocrystals are able to scavenge non-essentials trace-metals as Cu and Zn.