Antioxidant responses and bioaccumulation in Ictalurus melas under mercury exposure

Laboratory experiment was carried out to determine mercury accumulation in tissues (gills, kidneys, liver, and muscle) and biochemical responses in the liver of freshwater teleost Ictalurus melas. Catfish were subjected to different concentrations of Hg(2+) (35, 70, and 140 microg/L) for 10 days. The chemical analyses showed higher mercury concentrations for all treatments in gills and kidneys followed by liver and muscle. At the lowest mercury concentration a decrease in glutathione (GSH) content and an increase of GSH peroxidase Se-dependent and glyoxalase II enzymes were observed. An increasing trend was observed also for GSH-S-transferase and glyoxalase I, while GSH peroxidase Se-independent enzyme and GSH reductase showed no significant variation in activities. The increase in the enzymes activities of catfish, involved in the inactivation of reactive molecules formed during oxidative stress, could provide an additional protection against the oxidative damage induced by mercury.