Sodium Gill Potential as a Tool to Monitor Valve Closure Behavior in Freshwater Clam Corbicula fluminea in Response to Copper

Valve closure behavior in freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea is a biologically sensitive endpoint. The purpose of this paper was to derive an electrophysiological response model of C. fluminea to assess copper (Cu)–sodium (Na) interactions in gill membrane, whereby valve closure behavior and Cu toxicity could be monitored. The proposed model was based on the integration of Cu bioavailability, Na and Cu internalizations, and electrochemically-based gill potentials. Based on Na active transport under non-equilibrium conditions, predicted gill potential of −8.2 mV agreed reasonably well with published the measured transepithelial potential of −7 mV in C. fluminea. Our proposed framework captured the general features observed in model applications including: (i) 50% inhibitory Cu(2+) activities for Na membrane potential (E(Na)) and uptake rate (J(Na)) were estimated to be 0.072 and 0.043 μM, respectively, with a stoichiometry of 3Cu(2+): 1E(Na) and 1J(Na); (ii) the external Cu(2+)–dependent internal Na concentration could be parsimoniously estimated, and (iii) the site-specific clam gill potentials could be monitored. Here we provided a new approach to monitor waterborne metal toxicity to reduce the nationwide economic losses due to bans on harvesting of contaminated clam and the potential risks to the health of clams.