AB Aquatic Biology Contact the journal Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections AB 14:87-98 (2011) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00377 Use of oxidative stress biomarkers in Carcinus maenas to assess littoral zone contamination in Tunisia Jihene Ghedira1, Jamel Jebali1, Mohamed Banni1, Lassaad Chouba2, Hamadi Boussetta1, Juan López-Barea3, José Alhama3,* 1Laboratory of Biochemical and Environmental Toxicology, Higher Institute of Agriculture, Chott-Mariem, 4042 Sousse, Tunisia 2Chemical Laboratory, Higher Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, La Goulette Center, 2060 Tunis, Tunisia 3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Córdoba, Severo Ochoa Building, Rabanales Campus, Highway A4, Km 396a, 14071 Córdoba, Spain *Email: bb2alcaj@uco.es 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 metal-polluted area. Gargour animals nonetheless showed higher oxidative stress responses, such as glutathione reductase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activities, as well as malondialdehyde (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. KEY WORDS: Biomonitoring · Biochemical effects · Antioxidant enzymes · Lipid peroxidation · Multivariate analysis · Digestive gland · Gills · Metals · Organophosphates · Sediment pollution Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Ghedira J, Jebali J, Banni M, Chouba L, Boussetta H, López-Barea J, Alhama J (2011) Use of oxidative stress biomarkers in Carcinus maenas to assess littoral zone contamination in Tunisia. Aquat Biol 14:87-98. https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00377 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in AB Vol. 14, No. 1. Online publication date: December 06, 2011 Print ISSN: 1864-7782; Online ISSN: 1864-7790 Copyright © 2011 Inter-Research.