Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase enzyme immunoreactivity in the stomach tissue of rats fed with mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

Abstract

Objectives: Mussels accumulate heavy metals in their tissues. Although there are few data about the toxicityof seafood that is exposed to environmental pollution, there are no animal studies about the gastric toxicity ofmussels grown in the Dardanelles. The antioxidant Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) enzyme catalyzesthe hydrogen peroxide dismutation of superoxide radicals and removes the effects of free radicals which causeoxidative stress. The purpose of the study was to demonstrate the Cu/Zn SOD in the stomach tissues of ratswhich are fed with mussels that are collected from the Çamburnu region of the Dardanelles.Methods: A total of 24 male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group 1 (n = 6),control group fed with standard rat food; Group 2 (n = 6), 75% mussels and 25% standard rat food daily; Group3 (n = 6), 75% mussels and 25% standard rat food every two days; and Group 4 (n = 6), 75% mussels and 25%standard rat food every three days. To detect Cu/Zn SOD localization in the tissues, the LAB-SA DetectionSystem was used.Results: Cu/Zn SOD enzyme immunoreactivity was not detected in Group 1 and in samples without Cu/ZnSOD primer antibody. Cu/Zn SOD enzyme immunoreactivity was detected 82% in Group 2, 79% in Group 3,and 61% in Group 4. There was statistically significant difference between the Cu/Zn SOD immunoreactivityof epithelial cells in the gastric mucosa of the rats in the experimental and control groups (p< 0.05).Conclusions: Determination of the increase of Cu/Zn SOD enzyme in the gastric mucosa of mussel-fed ratsthat we used in our study suggests that it triggers the antioxidant defense mechanism against mussel toxicity.