Superdioxide dismutase (SOD) and metallothionein (MT) Tubifex tubifex at the acute mercury exposure

Abstract

Oxidative stress is a condition of over production of free radicals that can cause cell damage, pathological conditions and cell death. This study aims was to determined the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and metallothionein (MT) levels in Tubifex tubifex worms exposed to HgCl2 in various concentration levels. The concentration of HgCl2 used was based on LC50-48 h values in acute toxicity test (15,85 μg / L, 25,12 μg / L; 38,81 μg / L; 63,09 μg / L; 99,98 μg / L ). The method used was experiment. Determination of SOD activity done using spectrophotometry and MT measurement using ELISA method. The results was showed that HgCl2 exposure to Tubifex tubifex caused increased levels of superoxide dismutase enzyme and metallothionein levels. SOD and MT levels were directly proportional to the concentration of HgCl2, the higher the concentration, SOD and MT levels will increase accordingly.