Antioxidant enzymes in the liver of Chelidonichthys obscurus from the Montenegrin coastline

Abstract

The activities of antioxidant defence enzymes — total, manganese and copper zinc containing superoxide dismutase (Tot SOD, Mn SOD, CuZn SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and biotransformation phase II enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST) — in the liver of longfin gurnard (Chelidonichthys obscurus) from the Montenegrin coastline (Adriatic sea) were investigated. The specimens were collected in winter (February) and late spring (May) at two localities: Platamuni (PL, potentially unpolluted) and the Estuary of the River Bojana (EB, potentially polluted). The obtained results show that the activities of Mn SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and GST in winter were significantly lower at EB than at PL. In spring, the activities of CAT and GST were decreased, while GR activity was increased at EB in comparison to PL. The activities of Mn SOD and GST at PL were decreased and GSH-Px, GR and GST activities at EB were increased in spring compared to winter. Our work represents the first study of liver antioxidant enzymes of longfin gurnard from the Montenegrin coastline and reveals that locality, as a variable, has a greater influence on antioxidant enzymes and biotransformation phase II enzyme GST activities compared to season.

Integrated response of antioxidant biomarkers in the liver and white muscle of European hake (Merluccius merluccius L.) females from the Adriatic sea with respect to environmental influences

“…Some researchers showed that the biotransformation phase II enzyme GST is influenced by the levels of organic substrates, and both increased and inhibited enzyme activities have been reported in field studies. A similar increase in GST activity in winter was obtained by us in the liver of both thinlip gray mullet (Liza ramada) and longfin gurnard (Chelidonichthys obscurus) [18,31].…”

“…The concentrations of all other classes of PAHs were below 50 ng/L. We also measured five heavy metals (Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni) and no significant seasonal differences were observed [16,31]. It can be concluded that the investigated pollutants had a similar distribution during both seasons (except phenantrene), and that it is difficult to predict the direct influence of these compounds on the antioxidant defense.…”

“…Lower temperature was detected in winter and consequently a higher oxygen concentration was dissolved in sea water, because oxygen solubility increases in cold water. Aquatic hypoxia triggers a complex set of physiological and biochemical alterations in fish, including decreased metabolic rate, increased ventilation rate and increased anaerobic respiration [31]. Fish are ectothermic animals and their rates of biological activity are deeply influenced by the thermal environment [32].…”

“…Increases in MnSOD and CAT activities in white muscle in winter show elevated ROS production in mitochondria and peroxisomes and, as a result, compensatory increases of these enzymes. At low temperatures, the increase in polyunsaturated moieties of the mitochondrial membranes in fish should raise the rates of mitochondrial respiration, which would in turn enhance ROS formation ROS [31].…”

The Effects of Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) Essential Oil on the Stress Response, Anti-Oxidative Ability, and Kidney Metabolism of Sea Bass during Live Transport

“…SOD converts O 2 − to O 2 and H 2 O 2 first, and then CAT catalyzes H 2 O 2 to harmless H 2 O and O 2 at random. As an important peroxidase decomposition enzyme, GSH-Px catalyzes other harmful peroxides in the body and reduces toxic peroxides to non-toxic hydroxyl compounds, to protect the structure and function of cell membranes of living organisms [44,45]. MPO is a marker of neutrophil function and activation, and the peroxidase activity of MPO generates hypochlorite to kill microbes and inactivate inhibitors of lytic enzymes.…”