Immunolocalization of four antioxidant enzymes in digestive glands of mollusks and crustaceans and fish liver

Abstract.

The aim of this work was to determine the immunolocalization of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), Mn-SOD, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in the bivalve mollusks Mytilus galloprovincialis and Crassostrea sp., the crab Carcinus maenas, and the teleostean fish Mugil cephalus. By immunoblotting, crossreactivity between antibodies and the corresponding proteins in the digestive gland/hepatopancreas of invertebrates and the fish liver was demonstrated. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the stomach epithelium was strongly immunostained for catalase in mollusks. In crabs, ducts showed stronger immunostaining than tubules and in mullet hepatocytes the reaction appeared in discrete granules corresponding to peroxisomes. With regard to Cu,Zn-SOD, the apex of the tubule cells in mussels and crabs was distinctly immunostained, whereas in oysters the reaction was more marked in ducts and in mullet liver a uniform diffuse cytoplasmic staining was found. Mn-SOD was strongly positive in mollusk and crab ducts and in mullet periportal hepatocytes. Finally, GPX was not detected in mussels while in oysters a slight reaction was noted in all cell types. In crabs, connective tissue cells and the apex of duct cells were immunostained, but in mullet liver only erythrocytes appeared reactive. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that catalase was localized in peroxisomes with a dense labeling in fish and less intense labeling in invertebrates. Cu,Zn-SOD was mainly a cytosolic protein although additional positive subcellular sites (peroxisomes, nuclei) were also observed, while Mn-SOD was restricted to mitochondria. GPX was localized in the cytosol, nucleus, and lysosomes, occurring also in peroxisomes of the fish liver. The results presented here provide a basis for future application of the immunodetection techniques to study the possible differential induction of antioxidant enzymes in aquatic organisms subjected to oxidative stress as a result of exposure to environmental pollutants.