Multi-marker Study of Dreissena polymorpha Populations from Hydropower Plant Reservoir and Natural Lake in Latvia

Abstract

Hydropower plants (HPPs) are equipped with reservoirs that can accumulate the toxic effluents and disturb the water flow of rivers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical responses of zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha inhabiting the reservoir of Riga HPP in comparison with the responses of the mussels from the natural lake Kanieris in Latvia. In the reservoir mussels, high Mn-SOD activity and low level of the lipid peroxidation (production of TBARS) in the soft tissues suggested an elevated antioxidant activity. Compared to the lake specimens, the reservoir mussels had low levels of RI GSH while their lactate/pyruvate ratio was 1.4 times higher. In the mussels from the reservoir, high level of protein carbonilation products, as well as lowered caspase-3 and extralysosomal cathepsin D activities (by 1.4 and 1.6 times respectively, compared to the lake specimens) indicated delayed apoptosis. Catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities and metallothionein concentration were similar in both groups. Vitellogenin-like proteins (detected as the alkali-labile phosphates) and cholinesterase levels were higher in the mussels from the reservoir. We chose the indexes of the redox capacity as the most suitable markers of the environmental impact on this organism.

The effect of Roundup on the bivalve Unio tumidus mollusk utilizing ex vivo approach

“…Adult Unio tumidus Philipson, 1788 (Unionidae) mollusks (~ 6 years old, 8±1 cm length, and 42±5 g weight) were collected at the confirmed as relatively undisturbed in our previous studies site [15]. The bivalves were collected in autumn season.…”

Molecular and biochemical responses of vitellogenin in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to the glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup® Power 2.0

“…After 3 days of exposure to 75 ng/L of fluoxetine (a serotonin reuptake inhibitor), ALP levels decreased significantly in both female and male gonads, whereas ALP levels increased significantly after 1 week of exposure in both genders, decreasing again to levels significantly lower than controls after 14 days (Gonzalez-Rey and Bebianno 2013). In a recent field study, higher VTG-like protein levels (measured by the ALP assay) have been detected in mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) from a large hydropower plant reservoir (a potential accumulator of toxic compounds) than those from mussels collected in a natural lake in Latvia (Gnatyshyna et al 2020).…”