Relationship between anti-oxidant capacity and manganese accumulation in the soft tissues of two freshwater molluscs: Unio pictorum mancus (Lamellibranchia, Unionidae) and Viviparus ater (Gastropoda, Prosobranchia)

Abstract

Manganese is an element of great importance in the life cycle of plants and animals. For example, it plays an essential role as an activator of various enzymatic systems such as isoenzymes of superoxide dismutase. Freshwater Unionidae concentrate relatively large amounts of manganese in their tissues, but little is known about the physiological role of this metal. The aim of this research is to acquire a better knowledge of the role of manganese in molluscs which accumulate large amounts of this metal and in those with low manganese concentrations. As manganese is one of the metals present in the superoxide molecule, the possible relationship between manganese concentration in the soft tissues of molluscs and the antioxidant capacity of the metal can usefully be tested. To this end two species of molluscs were analysed: Unio pictorum mancus (Lamellibranchia, Unionidae), which is very rich in manganese, and Viviparus ater (Gastropoda, Prosobranchia) which has a low manganese content. The adults of both species were analysed for manganese concentration by ICP, and for antioxidant capacity as RAC (Relative Antioxidant Capacity) by a superoxide dismutase method. The results clearly demonstrate the active role played by manganese against free radicals and consequently the important role of the metal in protecting Unio against oxidative stress. The low concentration of manganese in Viviparus may be the result of the effective excretion of this metal, as was found for ruthenium

Lifting the curtain on the freshwater mussel diversity of the Italian Peninsula and Croatian Adriatic coast

“…Previous relevant scientific literature from this region was unfortunately based on incorrect taxonomy; for these studies, covering a range of scientific fields, including ecology (e.g. Ravera and Sprocati 1997;Ravera et al 2007), physiology (Campanella et al 2005;Carella et al 2016), toxicology (Guidi et al 2010;Polettini et al 2015;Sabbioni et al 2015), and aquaculture (Panini et al 2008;Sicuro et al 2010Sicuro et al , 2015, reanalysis using the taxonomy and distribution revealed in the present study might be necessary. For example, the study species of Ravera and Sprocati (1997), Ravera et al (2007), and Sicuro et al (2010) is U. elongatulus rather than U. mancus, which is only present in southern Italy, and when describing the host fishes of Anodonta cygnea, Giusti et al (1975) were not aware that three Anodonta species occurred in Trasimeno Lake instead of one.…”

Freshwater mollusc biodiversity and conservation in two stressed Mediterranean basins

“…Although much information is available (e.g . Pynnonen 1990;Gundacker 2000;Bonneris et al 2005;Campanella et al 2005), further research and more precise analysis on their physiology and ecology are needed to establish the status of freshwater molluscs as bioindicators of environmental stress.…”

Influence of Adding Manganese to Tris Extender on some Post-Cryopreservation Semen Attributes of Holstein Bulls

“…The M +2 is an important cofactor of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase, an antioxidant enzyme which scavenges oxygen free radicals [10]. It inhibits LPO produced by a free radical producing system, as potent antioxidant against oxidative stress at low doses [11]. Mn +2 supplementation reduced the leakage of lipids and phospholipid sperm contents under normal and induced oxidative stress conditions [12].…”