TOXIC EFFECTS OF ALUMINUM, CHROMIUM AND CADMIUM IN INTACT AND REGENERATING FRESH-WATER PLANARIANS

The effects of exposure to heavy metals were analyzed in the intact an d regenerating planarian Dugesia etrusca. Al3+ and Cr3+ were lethal at 1.5 mM concentration. Intact specimens, treated with Al at lower conc entrations, exhibited a variety of sublethal responses; Al was signifi cantly more toxic than Cr. Alterations in the cephalic regeneration of decapitated planarians were observed with bath metals. Cd2+ was teste d at concentrations ranging from 0.18 mu M to 18 mu M. Until 1.8 mu M, this metal did not produce any detectable sublethal responses in inta ct planarians, whereas higher concentrations were lethal. Sublethal Cd concentrations did not show any visible effect on cephalic regenerati on. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.