Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
7th International Conference on Enviromental Science and Technology, Sarajevo, Bosna-Hersek, 23 - 25 Haziran 2021, ss.1-18
Mussels are known as the natural filters of the aquatic systems and thus are accepted as one of the
best bio-indicator organism. Freshwater mussel Unio tigridis is distributed in the freshwater systems
in the Southern-east part of Turkey. Although these mussels were used in several toxicological
studies, there is no data on their response following metal-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) exposures. This
study aimed to investigate the response of the antioxidant enzymes of U. tigridis following exposure
to Al2O3, CuO and TiO2 NPs. The mussels were exposed to different concentrations (0, 1, 3, 9 mg
NP/L) of NPs for 14 days and subsequently, the activities of CAT (catalase), SOD (superoxide
dismutase), GPx (glutathione peroxidase), GST (glutathione S-transferase) and GR (glutathione
reductase) were measured in the gill and digestive gland. Mussels were fed with cultured unicellular
algae (Chlorella vulgaris) during experiments. Data showed that the consumption rate of algae by
mussels were not significantly altered by NPs. Data also demonstrated that all enzyme activities
altered significantly (P<0.05) after NP exposures, most alterations being decreases in CAT activity.
Similarly, SOD activity also decreased in the digestive gland, but it increased in the gill. However,
enzymes belonging to the glutathione metabolisms (GPx and GST) increased following NP exposures
in the digestive gland and gill, though GR activity decreased in both tissues. Data also revealed that
most alterations occurred at the highest exposure concentration of NPs. This study representing the
first record on the antioxidant system response of U. tigridis toward NP exposures suggests that
further studies should be carried out to understand better the effects of NPs in aquatic species.