Fig. 2. Effects of cadmium (Cd) exposure on protein synthesis rates in gill and hepatopancreas (HP) cells of oysters. (A, insert) Protein synthesis rates in control gill and HP cells estimated by the rate of incorporation of [³H]Leu. Vertical bars represent s.e.m. (N=8). (B) Changes in [³H]Leu incorporation in response to Cd exposure for 4 h at 20°C expressed as % of the respective controls. Vertical bars represent s.e.m. Asterisks denote values significantly different from the respective controls (P<0.05). N=7–8 except for the lowest (10–25 µmol l^–1; N=3) and the highest (1000–2000 µmol l^–1, N=4–5) Cd levels.