Oxidative stress biomarkers, cholinesterase activity and biotransformation enzymes in the liver of dice snake (Natrix tessellata Laurenti) during pre-hibernation and post-hibernation: A possible correlation with heavy metals in the environment

- Snakes are susceptible to bioaccumulation of environmental contaminants.
- Antioxidant parameters changes during pre- and post-hibernation were studied.
- Metals accumulated in liver modulated the responses of the antioxidant parameters.
- Obtained results must be taken into account in biomonitoring studies.

We investigated in the liver of dice snakes during pre- and post-hibernation changes in the following antioxidant parameters: total, manganese and copper zinc containing superoxide dismutases (Tot SOD, MnSOD, CuZn SOD, respectively), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and the concentrations of total glutathione (GSH) and sulfhydryl groups (-SH). In addition, we examined the expression of phase I biotransformation enzyme cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) and the activity of phase II biotransformation enzyme glutathioneS-transferase (GST), the level of lipid peroxidation (by measuring the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS)), cholinesterase activity (ChE) and metallothionein expression (MT). We also measured the concentrations of heavy metals, including Al, Cd, As, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn in the water and snake liver during both periods. During the post-hibernation period, the activities of Tot SOD, CuZn SOD and GST and the concentration of GSH were significantly decreased, while GSH-Px and GR activities, the concentrations of -SH groups and TBARS were significantly increased. The activities of Mn SOD, CAT and ChE, and the relative amounts of CYP1A and MT did not significantly change during the investigated periods. The observed differences in the examined parameters probably represent adaptive physiological responses to sudden changes in tissue oxygenation during arousal from hibernation. Our findings also indicate that the accumulated metals modulated the responses of the examined parameters during the investigated periods.