Antioxidant defence barrier of great tit Parus major nestlings in response to trace elements

Abstract

Metals can have direct and indirect effects on the generation of reactive oxygen species in wild birds. The aim of this work has been to examine the effect of exposure to trace metals (copper Cu, iron Fe, cobalt Co, manganese Mn) on oxidative stress biomarkers such as lipoperoxidation TBARS and level of superoxide dismutase SOD, catalase CAT, and reduced glutathione GSH in the livers and kidneys of great tit Parus major nestlings (n = 165, 63 broods) living in polluted environments associated with soda plants and agricultural activities (Kujawy region) and from a reference site (Tuchola Forest), both in the north of Poland. As we predicted, the level of TBARS in both organs of chicks from polluted areas was higher than in those from reference site. This could be connected with Fe concentrations, particularly in areas adjacent to soda plants (livers R s = 0.49, p < 0.002; kidneys R s = 0.69, p < 0.001). We also showed differences in the level of antioxidants depending on the environment. CAT activity was higher in nestlings from Kujawy than in those from Tuchola. Meanwhile SOD activity (both organs) and GSH levels (kidneys) were lower in the polluted area compared to the reference site. Concentrations of Cu, Fe, Co, and Mn may play a role in regulating the antioxidant system components' activity.

Profile of Heavy Metals and Antioxidant Defense in the Muscle Tissues of Pigeons (Columba livia f. urbana) from Anthropogenically Transformed Areas in the Pomeranian Region (Northern Poland)

“…Third, metals can cause oxidative stress by increasing the formation of ROS when the amounts of antioxidants are insufficient to defend against the growing amounts of free radicals (Pizzino et al 2017 ; Koim-Puchowska et al 2020 ). The effects of other metals on the induction of oxidative stress in the skeletal muscles shown in the correlation analysis also should be noted.…”

Changes in energetic metabolism and lysosomal destruction in the skeletal muscle and cardiac tissues of pigeons (Columba livia f. urbana) from urban areas of the northern Pomeranian region (Poland)

“…Many researchers report that, in polluted environments, toxic metals and organic pollutants resulting from increased anthropopressure are found to be modulators of the activity of the most important metabolic enzymes (Kamiński et al 2009;Wołonciej et al 2016;Koim-Puchowska et al 2020). ROS generation patterns have a major impact on cellular functions and mainly induce disintegration of cell membrane permeability as well as nuclear and mitochondrial DNA damage (Schilderman et al 1997).…”