Combined effects of starvation and copper on the antioxidant system of Crenomytilus grayanus (Dunker, 1853)

The effect of combined-factors (exposure to starvation and copper) on the antioxidant defenses were studied in the digestive gland of the bivalve Crenomytilus grayanus. The lack of food caused a decrease in the activity of catalase (CAT), the level of integral antiradical activity of low molecular weight antioxidants (IAA) and malondialdehyde (MDA), while the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione (GSH) remained unchanged. The effect of combined-factors (exposure to starvation and copper) lead to more significant inhibition of the activity of SOD, CAT, GR and reduce glutathione, as well as a weak increase in the level of IAA in comparison with starving mussels. The experiments have shown that the digestive gland of mussel do not accumulate lipid peroxidation products (MDA) at any forms of the impact despite suppression of the antioxidant system.