Abstract
We investigated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and the phase II biotransformation enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the whole body of fire salamander larvae (Salamandra salamandra) from two localities on Mt. Avala (AVS and ABP) and one locality on Mt. Vrsacki Breg (VSB), Serbia. We also determined the total glutathione (GSH) and sulfhydryl group (SH) contents, as well as the concentrations of manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and uranium (U). The obtained results show that animals from VSB had significantly lower weights and lengths than animals from AVS and ABP. The activities of all investigated enzymes were significantly higher, while the SH content was significantly lower in animals from VSB compared to those from AVS and ABP. No correlations between trace-element concentrations in water and animal tissue were observed. We concluded that the obtained results were more likely a consequence of the combination of developmental differences and the effects of different habitat conditions, environmental and anthropogenic influences than of concentrations of trace elements in the water alone.
Highlights
The physiological cost of aerobic life is elevated damage of cellular components by highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived as byproducts of oxygen metabolism
We investigated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and the phase II biotransformation enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the whole body of fire salamander larvae (Salamandra salamandra) from two localities on Mt
We investigated the activities of the antioxidant defense enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR), and the biotransformation phase II enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the whole body of the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) from the Avala and Vršački Breg mountains in Serbia
Summary
The physiological cost of aerobic life is elevated damage of cellular components by highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived as byproducts of oxygen metabolism. Most of the oxygen used in respiration is completely reduced to water in the mitochondria, while 0.1-2.0% is constantly transformed to superoxide anion radicals (O2.-) [1]. By spontaneous or enzymatic dismutation of O2-, hydrogen peroxide is formed (H2O2). Hydrogen peroxide can be reduced by some transition metal ions (Fe2+) to produce the hydroxyl radical (HO), which is the most reactive ROS. Hydrogen radicals attack and cause damage to proteins, lipids and DNA. When the production of ROS exceeds the capacity of cells to maintain redox balance through their antioxidant defense mechanisms, oxidative stress ensues [2]. In addition to their toxic effects, ROS have certain essential
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