Antioxidant Enzymes and Heavy Metal Levels in Tissues of the Black Chocolate Clam Megapitaria squalida in Bahía de La Paz, Mexico

• Published in: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 56; no. 1; pp. 60 - 66
• Main Authors: Cantú-Medellín, Nadiezhda, Olguín-Monroy, Norma O, Méndez-Rodríguez, Lía C, Zenteno-Savín, Tania
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York New York : Springer-Verlag 2009; Springer-Verlag; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abiotic factors; Acids; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Antioxidants; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Bivalvia; Bivalvia - chemistry; Bivalvia - drug effects; Bivalvia - enzymology; Cadmium; Coasts; Digestive glands; Digestive System - drug effects; Digestive System - enzymology; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental studies; Enzymatic activity; Enzymes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Glutathione Transferase - analysis; Glutathione Transferase - metabolism; Gonads - drug effects; Gonads - enzymology; Heavy metal content; Heavy metals; Invertebrates; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipids; Marine ecology; Megapitaria squalida; Metal concentrations; Metals; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Mexico; Mollusca; Mollusks; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects; Muscle, Skeletal - enzymology; Oxidative stress; Peroxidation; Pollution; Proteins; Seawater; Soil Science & Conservation; Studies; Superoxide Dismutase - analysis; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - metabolism; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Central America; Mexico; America; ISE, Mexico; ISE, Mexico, Baja California Sur, La Paz; Heavy Metal; Antioxidant Enzyme Activity; Lipid Peroxidation; Phosphorite; Digestive Gland; Pollutant; Pollution; Ecotoxicology; Bivalvia; Enzyme; Toxicity; Environment; Invertebrata; Mollusca; Antioxidant; Heavy metal
• ISSN: 0090-4341; 1432-0703
• DOI: 10.1007/s00244-008-9156-z

The black chocolate clam Megapitaria squalida is a commercially important bivalve along the Pacific coast of Mexico and is used as a bioindicator in environmental health studies. Previous studies of Bahía de La Paz indicated significant differences in heavy metal content among localities in this clam. To identify areas affected by heavy metal pollution, lipid peroxidation (TBARS) levels and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were measured in muscle, gonad, and digestive gland tissue and correlated with heavy metal levels of clams from six localities along the shore of the bay. Significant differences in TBARS levels and antioxidant enzyme activity were found among these tissues at all localities. Such differences are ascribed to the physiology of each organ. Higher levels of TBARS were found in areas with higher cadmium content. SOD activity in muscle correlated positively with cadmium, lead, and iron in areas with a higher content of those elements. This study suggests that TBARS levels and SOD and GST activity are affected by biotic and abiotic factors and have potential as indicators of heavy metal contamination.