Content of cysteine, reduced and oxidized glutathione in spermatozoa of representatives ofAcipenseriformes(Acipenser baeriiandA. ruthenus) as well as teleosts (Perca fluviatilisandSander lucioperca)

Abstract

Summary Glutathione belongs to a vital intra- and extra-cellular protective antioxidant and is found almost exclusively in its reduced form. The ratio between its reduced and oxidized within cells is often used as a marker of cellular toxicity. The objectives of the study were to (i) determine both the reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and cysteine (Cys) in the sperm of the Acipenser baerii and Acipenser ruthenus ,a s well as in Perca fluviatilis and Sander lucioperca, and (ii) to demonstrate the differences in concentration levels between representatives of acipenseriform and teleost species. High performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection was employed. The average content of the thiols determined in the sperm samples were as follows: Acipenser baerii (cysteine 55 ± 8 l gm l )1 ; GSH 126 ± 19 l gm l )1 ; GSSG 49 ± 7 l gm l )1 ), Acipenser ruthenus (cysteine 62 ± 9 l gm l )1 ; GSH 768 ± 115 l gm l )1 ; GSSG 180 ± 16 l gm l )1 ), Sander lucioperca (cysteine 251 ± 38 l gm l )1 ; GSH 185 ± 28 l gm l )1 ; GSSG 93 ± 14 l gm l )1 ), Perca fluviatilis (cysteine 281 ± 42 l gm l )1 ; GSH 496 ± 74 l gm l )1 ; GSSG 138 ± 21 l gm l )1 ). Based on the results obtained it can be concluded that this method is sensitive and selective for the determination of these compounds in real samples. Results revealed differences in cysteine content between species of the two systematic categories but also showed that ratios between GSH and GSSG can vary between species while potentially predict oxidative stress in fish sperm.