OXIDATIVE ENZYME ACTIVITIES, METALLOTHIONEIN LEVELS AND LIPID OXIDATION IN PERISPHERAL BLOOD IN Otaria flavescens (SOUTHAMERICAN SEA LION)

POLIZZI, P; ANSALDO, M; RUOPPOLLO, V; RODRÍGUEZ, D; PONCE DE LEÓN, A; GERPE, M

Long Beach

Congreso; Primo 16 - Pollutant responses in marine organisms; 2011

SETAC

Otaria flavescens inhabits Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South America, being frequent at Uruguay-Argentina coast. Metallothioneins (MT) are ubiquitous low molecular weight proteins (6000 Da),cysteine-rich which bind heavy metals such as Zn, Cu (essential) and Cd, Hg(non-essential), so are considered metal pollution biomarkers .Oxidative stress affect all aerobic organisms when antioxidant defenses are lower than antioxidant compounds. There are evidence that organisms aquatic health can be related with the oxidative stress (Di Giulio et al., 1989). Malondialdehide (MDA), is a final product of lipid peroxidation, know as oxidative stress biomarker. By the other bay, dismutase superoxide (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) are enzymes which play a relevant role such as antioxidant defenses. Also, reduced glutathione (GSH), to keep on oxidative equilibrium en different organs. Studies about MT, enzymes and TBARs in marine mammals are few, because samples of these biological group in proper condition to allow the assessment of health.