Effects of Uranium on the Antioxidant Responses of Chinese Oak Silkworm, Antheraea pernyi
Effects of Uranium on the Antioxidant Responses of Chinese Oak Silkworm, Antheraea pernyi
Congfen Zhang1,Yingxiao Liu2, Linfeng He2, Fengjun Shi2, Weitang Yao2 and Xuegang Luo2,*
ABSTRACT
Uranium (U) is one of the heavest metals in nature, which has been mainly used in atomic energy industrial system, but its toxic effects on most organisms are largely remained unknown especially in insects. Antheraea pernyi pupae were injected with uranyl acetate, which concentrations were 6.25mM, 12.5mM, 25mM. Changes in malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) as well as their corresponding mRNA levels in the fat bodies of the pupae were evaluated. As a result, we found that the contents of MDA were increased at 4 h and then decreased compared with control. And, the contents of GSH were decreased gradually. However, the activities of catalase were inhibited and the trend of SOD activity changes was down-regulation in a time-dependent manner with higher concentration treatments. The changing trends in the mRNA levels of these enzymes were not always consistent with those of enzymatic activities. The fat body of A. pernyi, as an important antioxidant tissue, can increase the expression of oxido-reductas system enzymes by promoting the expression of SOD, CAT, GST and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) to improve the body’s response to heavy metal stimulation injury. Our results collectively support a relationship between uranyl acetate and alterations in the levels of antioxidant enzymes in A. pernyi fatbodies. The activities and expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) enzymes can be used as a biomarker for detection of heavy metal contamination.
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February 2022
Vol. 54, Iss. 1, Pages 1-501
