The study of the cellular responses to environmental contamination allows a deep investigation of the mechanisms that mediate the biological damage linked to various types of pollution, providing a thorough assessment of the environmental quality. Moreover, anthropogenic contaminants may exert toxic effects to marine organisms induced by the formation of an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In aquatic environments, bivalve molluscs are used as sentinel species for environmental biomonitoring. Pinna nobilis, the biggest Mediterranean bivalve, was selected as bioindicator organism to conduct this research. Specimens were collected in the Magaluf bay (Mallorca), in a highly touristic anthropic location and in the Cabrera National Park, in a pristine non polluted no-take area considered as the control location. Histology and histochemical analysis in gills of specimens sampled from Magaluf exhibited evident tissue alterations with high presence of hemocytes. A statistically significant inhibition (P<0.0001) of AChE in the gills of Pinna nobilis was also found in specimens collected from Magaluf compared with the control area. The oxidative status in gills of P. nobilis through the determination of antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase presented higher activities in Magaluf bay than in Cabrera. GSH levels were also increased in the area of Magaluf respect to Cabrera. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that human activities induce oxidative stress in P. nobilis as evidenced with an increased antioxidant defenses and a decreased acetylcholinesterase activity.

Biomarkers of environmental stress in gills of Pinna nobilis (Linnaeus 1758) from Balearic Island

NATALOTTO, ANTONINO
Primo
;
MAISANO, Maria;SPANO', Nunziacarla;MAUCERI, Angela Rita;
2015-01-01

Abstract

The study of the cellular responses to environmental contamination allows a deep investigation of the mechanisms that mediate the biological damage linked to various types of pollution, providing a thorough assessment of the environmental quality. Moreover, anthropogenic contaminants may exert toxic effects to marine organisms induced by the formation of an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In aquatic environments, bivalve molluscs are used as sentinel species for environmental biomonitoring. Pinna nobilis, the biggest Mediterranean bivalve, was selected as bioindicator organism to conduct this research. Specimens were collected in the Magaluf bay (Mallorca), in a highly touristic anthropic location and in the Cabrera National Park, in a pristine non polluted no-take area considered as the control location. Histology and histochemical analysis in gills of specimens sampled from Magaluf exhibited evident tissue alterations with high presence of hemocytes. A statistically significant inhibition (P<0.0001) of AChE in the gills of Pinna nobilis was also found in specimens collected from Magaluf compared with the control area. The oxidative status in gills of P. nobilis through the determination of antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase presented higher activities in Magaluf bay than in Cabrera. GSH levels were also increased in the area of Magaluf respect to Cabrera. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that human activities induce oxidative stress in P. nobilis as evidenced with an increased antioxidant defenses and a decreased acetylcholinesterase activity.
2015
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11570/3060359
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