DOSE-DEPENDENT EFFECTS OF PHOSPHONATE AND IMIDAZOLINONE DERIVATIVES ON THE ACTIVITY OF ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES IN FISH BLOOD
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31861/biosystems2025.02.231Keywords:
superoxide dismutase, catalase, herbicides, glyphosate, imidazolinones, fishAbstract
The modern agricultural industry actively uses pesticides, among which glyphosate-based herbicides (phosphonate derivatives) and imidazolinones (imazamox, imazapyr) occupy a prominent place. These substances, entering aquatic ecosystems as a result of surface runoff and drainage, pose a global environmental problem. This problem has become particularly acute in the context of military operations in Ukraine, where the destruction of agro-industrial facilities leads to uncontrolled burst emissions that can exceed the established maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) many times over, causing the development of “non-target toxicity” in hydrobionts, most often through the induction of oxidative stress.
This study conducted a comparative analysis of dose-dependent changes in the activity of key antioxidant defense enzymes-superoxide dismutase and catalase - as well as the level of TBA-active products of lipid peroxidation in fish blood upon exposure to water with different concentrations of the herbicides Uragan Forte (glyphosate) and Eurolighting (imidazolinones). The silver crucian carp (Carassius gibelio), known for its ecological plasticity and ability to survive in highly polluted conditions, was chosen as the model organism. The experiment lasted 7 days and included four test concentrations of herbicides: 1 MPC, 2 MPC, 5 MPC, and 10 MPC.
The results showed a clear dose-dependent increase in the level of TBA-active products, which is direct evidence of the development of oxidative stress. Thus, an increase in the concentration of TBK products in blood serum was established under conditions of Eurolighting use already at a dose of 2 MPC, and in the 10 MPC group, the maximum value was recorded, exceeding the control by more than twice. The determined activities of SOD and catalase in the blood of Carassius gibelio demonstrate the coordinated work of this link in the antioxidant system in response to the effects of herbicides. At low and medium concentrations of Eurolighting and Glyphosate, an increase in SOD activity was observed, reflecting an adaptive response to a moderate increase in oxidative stress. At the same time, catalase activity increased or remained at the control level, which is consistent with the response to an increase in H₂O₂ after superoxide dismutation. However, at high concentrations, the response of enzymes was fundamentally different. Thus, under the action of 10 MPC of glyphosate, there was a sharp suppression of SOD and catalase activity. In contrast, the effect of imidazolinones caused a marked increase in the activity of both enzymes, reaching maximum values at 10 MPC. Thus, the dose-dependent differences in the response of antioxidant enzymes indicate the peculiarities of the molecular mechanisms of the toxic action of different classes of herbicides, emphasizing the need for the simultaneous use of several biomarkers for comprehensive environmental monitoring of water bodies.
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