title: Seasonal variation of oxidative stress biomarkers in clams Ruditapes decussatus sampled from Tunisian coastal areas.
abstract: Seven (7) sites from to the Tunisian coastal area were monitored through four seasons using several oxidative stress biomarkers including lipid peroxidation. Catalase (CAT) specific activity was determined in clam Ruditapes decussatus digestive gland. Lipid peroxidation was assessed in the same tissues using malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, neutral lipid (NL) and lipofuscin accumulation. Results show that catalase specific activity varies between sites and fluctuates in time. The highest CAT activities were recorded in sites from Bizerta Lagoon and sites neighbouring Sfax city. Malondialdehyde accumulation in digestive gland cells seems to be very pronounced in animals sampled in summer and autumn. Digestive gland sections of clams sampled from reported heavy metal polluted sites exhibited higher volume density of residual bodies. Our results showed that the neutral lipids and lipofuscin content in clam's digestive gland are more sensitive to general stress as compared to other biomarkers, and could be used successfully in clams as early warning tools in field biomonitoring programs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Toxicologie Environnementale, Institut Supérieur Agronomique, Chott-Mariem, Sousse, Tunisia. m_banni@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banni
authors.forename: Zied
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bouraoui
authors.forename: Jihene
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ghedira
authors.forename: Cristelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clearandeau
authors.forename: Jamel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jebali
authors.forename: Hamadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boussetta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000032:analysis; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D008062:Lipofuscin; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase