Use of oxidative stress biomarkers in Carcinus maenas to assess littoral zone contamination in Tunisia

Abstract

Biological effects of pollutants were studied in Carcinus maenas crabs from 3 polluted sites (Bizerte, Teboulba, Gargour) along the Tunisian littoral zone using biochemical biomarkers. A metal contamination gradient was found, Bizerte standing out as the most metalpolluted area. Gargour animals nonetheless showed higher oxidative stress responses, such as gluta thione reductase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activities, as well as malondi aldehyde (MDA) levels in gills. The gills showed higher lipid peroxidation than did the digestive gland, in keeping with their respiratory role. Animals were also exposed for different periods to 2 model pollutants, cadmium and chlorpyriphos-ethyl. Although cadium induces oxidative stress, mainly in gills, thus increasing lipid peroxidation, principal-component analysis indicated that metal content in sediments and crabs from in-field monitoring does not fully correlate with oxidative stress biomarker responses. Catalase and MDA were the most sensitive biomarkers, and gills the most responsive organ. A lower catalase content in gills was linked to higher MDA levels.

Assessment of the Accumulation of Trace Metals and Oxidative Stress Response Biomarkers in the Portunid Portunus segnis

“…The values recorded in different regions of the world have been mentioned in Table 3. The concentrations of copper reported in our study in the gills of P. segnis individuals from Ghannouch and Djerba are lower than those reported in the samples of crabs collected from the Bizerte Lagoon, the Monastir Coast, and Gargour in Sfax [52,53]. The levels of the same element in the hepatopancreata of P. segnis in the two studied sites (Ghannouch and Djerba) are also lower than those recorded in crab samples from Canada [54], Australia [35], and the United States [55].…”

Biomarkers responses in different body regions of the polychaeta Hediste diversicolor (Nereidae, Polychaete) exposed to copper

“…Metals as copper have been of great concern in marine and coastal ecosystems, since they cause several biological alterations from molecular to tissue level depending to their concentrations and time exposure (Banni et al, 2009;Ben Khedher et al, 2014). Therefore, they may be also, accumulated in various tissues of living organisms and lead to several orders of magnitude higher than those of the surrounding water (Ghedira et al, 2011;Jebali et al, 2014). Toxic effects of pollutants often depend on their capacity to increase the cellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS).…”

“…In this view, Rosa et al, 2005 Cravo et al (2009) described an increase of CAT activity in posterior region of Laeoneris acuta exposed respectively to 10 µM of H 2 O 2 and 62.5 ug/L of copper. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) is a way to evaluate the lipid peroxidation level, which occurs in the absence of sufficient antioxidant defense (Guidia et al, 2010;Ghedira et al, 2011;Buffet et al, 2014). A Lower MDA values for posterior regions is due to a sufficient antioxidant defense such as CAT in this region.…”

Impaired behavior and changes in some biochemical markers of bivalve (Ruditapes decussatus) due to zinc toxicity

“…Increase in the oxidative stress biomarker (LPO) was found in clams treated with ZnCl 2 . Metals such as Cd and Cu are known as strong pro-oxidant generating reactive oxygen species (Ghedira et al 2011). Therefore, the treated clams with ZnCl 2 could be toxic through the induction of oxidative stress in exposed organisms.…”