ORBi: Debacker Virginie - Combined Effects of Experimental Heavy-Metal Contamination (Cu, Zn, and CH3Hg) and Starvation on Quail's Body Condition: Parallelism with a Wild Common Guillemot (Uria aalge) Population Found Stranded at the Belgian Coast

Reference : Combined Effects of Experimental Heavy-Metal Contamination (Cu, Zn, and CH3Hg) and Starv...


	Document type :	Scientific journals : Article
	Discipline(s) :	Life sciences : Aquatic sciences & oceanology Life sciences : Environmental sciences & ecology
	To cite this reference:	http://hdl.handle.net/2268/15979

Title :	Combined Effects of Experimental Heavy-Metal Contamination (Cu, Zn, and CH3Hg) and Starvation on Quail's Body Condition: Parallelism with a Wild Common Guillemot (Uria aalge) Population Found Stranded at the Belgian Coast
Language :	English
Author, co-author :	Debacker, Virginie [Université de Liège - ULg > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Ecologie animale et écotoxicologie >]
	Rutten, Astrid [> > > >]
	Jauniaux, Thierry [Université de Liège - ULg > Département de morphologie et pathologie > Département de morphologie et pathologie >]
	Daemers, Claire [> > > >]
	Bouquegneau, Jean-Marie [Université de Liège - ULg > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie >]
Publication date :	2001
Journal title :	Biological Trace Element Research
Volume :	82
Issue/season :	1-3, Summer
Pages :	87-107
Peer reviewed :	Yes (verified by ORBi)
Audience :	International
ISSN :	0163-4984
Keywords :	[en] Heavy metals ; Common quail ; Common guillemot ; Cachexia ; Belgian coast
Abstract :	[en] Combined effects of heavy-metal contamination (Cu, Zn, and CH3Hg) and starvation were tested on common quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) and used as a model for comparison with a wild common guillemot (Uria aalge) population found stranded at the Belgian coast. Appropriate heavy-metal levels were given to the quails to obtain concentrations similar to those found in the seabirds's tissues. The contaminated animals were then starved for 4 d to simulate the evident malnutrition symptoms observed at the guillemot's level. In such conditions, food intake and total-body weight are shown to decrease in contaminated individuals with simultaneous significant hepatic and renal increase of the heavy-metal concentrations. Like guillemots, higher heavy-metal levels were observed in those contam- inated quails that had also developed a cachectic status characterized by a general atrophy of their pectoral muscle and complete absence of subcutaneous and/or abdominal fat depots. Although likely the result of a general protein catabolism during starvation, it is suggested that these higher metal levels could as well enhance a general muscle wasting process (cachectic status).
Funders :	‘Impulse Programme in Marine Sciences supported by the Belgian state - The Prime Minister’s Services - Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs. (MN/DD/50 and MN/DD/51).
Target :	Researchers ; Professionals ; Students
Permalink :	http://hdl.handle.net/2268/15979
DOI :	10.1385/BTER:82:1-3:087

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