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Oxidative Stress Response in Gill and Liver of Liza saliens, from the Esmoriz-Paramos Coastal Lagoon, Portugal

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Abstract

Tissue-specific responses against oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation were analyzed in wild adult mullet (Liza saliens) caught in the Portuguese coastal lagoon Esmoriz-Paramos. Parameters measured were catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities in liver and gill tissues and lipid peroxidation. The enzyme activities were related to gill histopathological alterations, as well as to heavy metals (Cu and Zn) concentrations in these tissues. Gill epithelium of L. saliens showed histological alterations, such as epithelial hyperplasia resulting in lamellar fusion, epithelial lifting, vasodilatation, and lamellar aneurisms, with a prevalence ranging from 62% to 92%. The highest Cu content was found in liver (379 mg·kg−1), while the highest Zn content was observed in gill (119 mg·kg−1). SOD and CAT activities showed differences between gill and liver. The highest activities found were SOD in gill (10.1 U/mg protein) and CAT in liver (39.2 mmol/min/mg protein). In gill, CAT activity was negatively related to both Cu levels and gill lifting, while a positive relationship was found between SOD activity and fish age. The positive relationship between Cu and CAT activity in liver suggests that an increase in metabolic level is related to Cu-induced oxidative stress. The decrease in gill CAT activity can be due to osmotic stress caused by damaged gill epithelium. CAT activity in liver is an appropriate biomarker of oxidative stress in the Esmoriz-Paramos lagoon.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through research project POCTI/QUI/15089/1999 and by the Center of Studies for Technological, Environmental and Life Sciences (CETAV), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal. The authors would like to thank Esmoriz fire brigade for their support in fish sampling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ESA—Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, CIMO—Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Apartado 1038, 5301-854, Bragança, Portugal

    C. Fernandes

  2. UTAD—Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, CETAV/CITAB- Centro de Estudos Tecnológicos, do Ambiente e da Vida/Centro de Investigação e de Tecnologias Agro-Ambientais e Biológicas, Apartado 1013, 5000-911, Vila Real, Portugal

    A. Fontaínhas-Fernandes

  3. CIIMAR—Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal

    M. Ferreira & M. A. Salgado

  4. ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Largo Professor Abel Salazar, 2, 4099-003, Porto, Portugal

    M. A. Salgado

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  1. C. Fernandes
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  2. A. Fontaínhas-Fernandes
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  4. M. A. Salgado
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Correspondence to A. Fontaínhas-Fernandes.

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Fernandes, C., Fontaínhas-Fernandes, A., Ferreira, M. et al. Oxidative Stress Response in Gill and Liver of Liza saliens, from the Esmoriz-Paramos Coastal Lagoon, Portugal. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 55, 262–269 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-007-9108-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-007-9108-z

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