Antioxidant enzyme activities and markers of oxidative stress in the life cycle of earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae

Abstract

The main aim of this work is to provide basic data on the aspects of pro-oxidant and antioxidant processes in different life stages of Eudrilus eugeniae. The levels of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), along with the byproducts of lipid and protein oxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC), content were determined in the whole body of juvenile, sub-adult and adult earthworms. The SOD activity significantly (P > 0.05) decreased during development from juvenile to adult, while CAT activity showed an increase with advancing age. The MDA content significantly increased in the adult compared to other age groups. The protein carbonyl content showed insignificant changes with respect to age. Our results suggest that the decline in SOD activity coupled with increased levels of MDA implicate the susceptibility of older animals to oxidative stress. © 2010 Unione Zoologica Italiana.