Changes of Antioxidant Enzymes in Aquatic Biota - An Answer to Oil Refinery Spills

Gordana N. Grubor-Lajsic, Silvana A. Andric, Nebojsa Lj. Andric, Snezana M. Dragisic, Ksenija J. Taski, Bojana Dj. Stanic, Tatjana S. Kostic, and Radmila Z. Kovacevic

Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Yugoslavia

Corresponding author: Gordana N. Grubor-Lajsic
    Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences University of Novi Sad
    Trg D. Obradovica 2
    21 000 Novi Sad, Yugoslavia
    Telephone: (+381) 21 58 988
    Fax number: (+381) 21 450 620
    E-mail: gordanagl@unsim.ns.ac.yu

CEJOEM 2000, Vol.6. No.2-3.:189-193

Key words:
Fish, sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), pike (Esox lucius), Danube, petroleum pollution, antioxidant enzymes, SOD, CAT, GST

Abbreviations:
CAT = catalase
DTD = Danube-Tisa-Danube
GST = glutathione S-transferase
PAH = polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
SOD = superoxide dismutase

Abstract:
Antioxidant enzyme activities of two fish species were determined to establish possible environmental impact of toxic spills caused by air strikes on oil refinery during spring 1999. Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione-transferase in the liver of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) and pike (Esox lucius) were chosen as bioindicators. The specimens were collected in September 1999, at two different sampling sites: (1) at the mouth of the Danube-Tisa-Danube irrigation canal system (DTD) pouring into the River Danube, near the oil refinery of Novi Sad (Danube-oil refinery), which had been destroyed by air attacks 90 days before sampling. During the war unknown quantities of toxic substances leaked into the Danube and the DTD canal system. (2) The other location was at the stagnant water “Begecka jama” (Danube-Begecka jama), an upstream wetland connected by a canal with the Danube, remote from any strategic target subjected to air strikes and treated as control. Sterlets from the Danube-oil refinery had smaller body weights than those from Danube-Begecka jama, although total body lengths did not differ in the two groups. Higher SOD and lower CAT and GST activities were recorded in sterlets from the Danube-oil refinery compared to the controls. In pikes from the Danube oil refinery decreased SOD activity was observed but the activities of CAT and GST were significantly higher in the samples from the Danube-Begecka jama. The results suggest a possible correlation between the altered activity of the antioxidant defense system and adverse effects of the destroyed oil refinery spills on the Danube ecosystem.

Received: 31 July 2000
Accepted: 06 November 2000

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