Majallah-i ̒Ilmī-i Shīlāt-i Īrān (Jan 2017)
Evaluation of antioxidant defense in the various stages of sexual maturation in cultured Sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus)
Abstract
One of the most important defense systems in order to keep fish homeostasis is the antioxidant defense system. In order to assay antioxidant enzymes during ovarian maturation process in cultured female Sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus), 24 fish were categorized in four groups including previtellogenic, vitellogenic, post-vitellogenic and atresia stage (6 fish in each group) and blood samples were collected from them. The stages of maturity were identified based on the histological criteria and direct observation. Activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD(, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and the content of malondealdehyde (MDA) in the blood were investigated. The results showed that CAT and GPX activities were decreased in vitellogenic stage compared to those in previtellogenic stage (p0.05). MDA concentration did not show significant changes among different groups (p>0.05). The results of this study showed that instead of increasing the metabolism in the process of sexual maturation, antioxidant defense was able to effectively protect fish against these changes.
