Response of catalase activity to Ag+, Cd2+, Cr6+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ in five tissues of freshwater fish Oreochromis niloticus

Catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) is an important enzyme in antioxidant defense system protecting animals from oxidative stress. Freshwater fish Oreochromis niloticus were exposed for 96 h to different concentrations of Ag+, Cd2+, Cr6+, Cu2+ and Zn2+, known to cause oxidative stress, and subsequently CAT activities in liver, kidney, gill, intestine and brain were measured. In vivo, CAT was stimulated by all metals except Ag+ in the liver and the highest increase in CAT activity (183%) resulted from 1.0 mg Cd2+/L exposure, whereas 0.5 mg Ag+/L exposure resulted in a sharp decrease (44%). In tilapia kidney, cadmium and zinc had no significant effects on CAT activity, whereas 0.1 mg Cr6+/L exposure caused a decrease (44%). Cadmium and zinc did not significantly affect the CAT activity in gill; however, 0.5 mg Ag+/L exposure caused an increase (66%) and 1.5 mg Cr6+/L exposure caused a decrease (97%) in CAT activity. All metals, except Cu2+(41% increase), caused significant decreases in CAT activity in the intestine. In brain, 1.0 mg Zn2+/L resulted in an increase in CAT activity (126%), while 1.5 mg Ag+/L exposure caused a 54% decrease. In vitro, all metals — except Ag+ and Cu2+ in kidney — significantly inhibited the CAT activity in all tissues. Results emphasized that CAT may be considered as a sensitive bioindicator of the antioxidant defense system.