NUSANTARA BIOSCIENCE ISSN: 2087-3948 Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 28-35 E-ISSN: 2087-3956 March 2011 DOI: 10.13057/nusbiosci/n030105 Microanatomy alteration of gills and kidneys in freshwater mussel (Anodonta woodiana) due to cadmium exposure FUAD FITRIAWAN 1, , SUTARNO², SUNARTO² ¹ Open University, UPBJJ Bandar Lampung. Jl. Soekarno-Hatta No. 108 B Rajabasa, Bandar Lampung 35144, Lampung, Indonesia. Tel.: +92-721- 704772. Fax.: +92-721-709026. E-mail: ut-bandarlampung@upbjj.ut.ac.id, maz_afid@yahoo.co.id ² Bioscience Program, School of Graduates, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta 57126, Central Java, Indonesia Manuscript received: 15 December 2010. Revision accepted: 26 February 2011. Abstract. Fitriawan F, Sutarno, Sunarto. 2011. Microanatomy alteration of gills and kidneys in freshwater mussel (Anodonta woodiana) due to cadmium exposure. Nusantara Bioscience 3: 28-35. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of Cd accumulation in the gills and kidneys, to know the changes in microanatomic structure of A. woodiana after the various treatments of heavy metals. Completely randomized design pattern of 5 x 3 as used in this laboratory experiment. The amount of exposure of heavy metals Cd was (0 ppm, 0.5 ppm, 1 ppm, 5 ppm, 10 ppm), while the variation of length of exposure time to Cd were (7 days, 14 days, and 30 days). The parameters of Cd accumulation in the gills and kidney was analyzed by using AAS method, while abnormalities of gills and kidney were detected by microanatomy structure. Data collected were then analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and continued with further test the DMRT. The results indicated that there is a significant effect in 475.3 > 0.000 and 60150.3 >0.000 with 5% significance level (P<0.05) of Cd treatment on gill and kidney microanatomy of A. woodiana. The changes in microanatomy structure of those organs are including edema, hyperplasia, fusion of lamella, necrosis, and atrophy. Key words: Anodonta woodiana, cadmium, gills, kidneys Abstrak. Fitriawan F, Sutarno, Sunarto. 2011. Perubahan mikroanatomi pada insang dan ginjal kerang air tawar (Anodonta woodiana) terhadap paparan kadmium. Nusantara Bioscience 3: 28-35. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui tingkat akumulasi, perubahan struktur mikroanatomi setelah perlakuan logam berat Cd pada insang dan ginjal A. woodiana. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan yaitu eksperimental laboratorium dengan rancangan acak lengkap (5 x 3) berupa besarnya paparan Cd (0 ppm, 0,5 ppm, 1 ppm, 5 ppm, 10 ppm) dan waktu pemaparan Cd (setelah 7 hari, 14 hari, dan 30 hari). Parameter pengujian mencakup uji akumulasi Cd pada insang dan ginjal dengan metode AAS, dan abnormalitas insang dan ginjal akibat akumulasi Cd dengan metode preparasi. Analisis akumulasi Cd pada insang dan ginjal menggunakan analisis varian (ANAVA) dan dilanjutkan dengan uji lanjut jarak berganda Duncan (DMRT). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan pengaruh pemberian beberapa perlakuan Cd terhadap kontrol insang dan ginjal A. woodiana signifikan sebesar 475,3 > 0,000 dan 60150,3 > 0,000 dengan taraf signifikansi rata-rata 5% (P<0,05) yang ditandai dengan perubahan struktur mikroanatomi pada insang berupa edema, hiperplasia, fusi lamella, nekrosis hingga atropi. Sedangkan pada ginjal berupa edema, hiperplasia dan nekrosis pada tubulus, glomerulus, dan mineralisasi pada sel darah hingga mengalami pendarahan. Kata kunci: Anodonta woodiana, kadmium, insang, ginjal INTRODUCTION Cadmium (Cd) is one type of heavy metals that are useful in several industries. For example in the textile batteries industry and electroplating, as coloring matters in ink. Cd also exists naturally in foods even if only in small amounts absorbed by the intestine (5-8%) (Palar 1994). But on the other hand, heavy metal can cause problems; problems can occur more severe if waste management is not done properly, so that it will have an impact on the environment as a micro-pollutants (Soegianto et al. 2004). Incoming cadmium in fresh water will be joined with a metal ion cofactor so that the shape of Cd 2+ causes the toxicity of the water. Cd 2+ ‘s toxicity levels in water depend on salinity. The toxicity of Cd 2+ in the water will rise if the salinity is low. To determine the level of pollution in a region we can use a particular bioindicator organism typical of one that can be used, namely A. woodiana. The advantages of this animal are that they settle in one place, and have a slow movement, so that if an environment is exposed to heavy metal waste Cd then indirectly affects the lives of these biotas. Cd accumulation in an organism other than cause exposure to the organ, it will also cause interference on enzyme activity. The nature of the toxic metal is due to its very effective in binding itself with the group of sulphurhydril (SH) in the enzyme system of cells that form bonds and metalloprotein metalloenzyme so that enzyme activity for cell life processes cannot take place (Connell and Miller 1995). Gills and kidneys are vital organs. Gills play a role in the process of respiration, acid-base balance, ionic and osmotic regulation because of the branchial epithelium