Antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in sturgeon Acipenser naccarii and trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. A comparative study

Enzymatic antioxidant activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase) and lipid peroxidation were determined in different tissues (gills, heart, digestive tract, liver, white muscle, skin, red blood cells, swimbladder) of trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii). Total tissue antioxidant activity was, except for catalase, generally higher in trout than sturgeon, with the reverse tendency displayed by the liver. In both species, lipid peroxidation in the digestive tract showed higher values compared to the other tissues. Sturgeon, compared to trout, had higher energy content stored as fat in liver and muscle and thus appeared to have an effective safeguard against oxidation, as shown by low lipid peroxidation.