Analysis of antioxidants in water striders (Hemiptera: Gerridae) as bioindicator of water pollution.

The antioxidant enzyme system is an important defense mechanism to cope with Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) produced due to exposure to heavy metals. In the present study lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) in water and the antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) was investigated in three species (Metrocoris communis, Limnogonus fossarum fossarum, and Aquarius adelaidis) of water striders collected from the industrial triangle of Punjab, Pakistan. The results of present study revealed that Pb, Cr, As, Cd and Ni were according to the permissible amount of WHO. The antioxidant activity of SOD, CAT and POD was found significantly different among species against oxidative stress, but found the highest activity of determining parameters in A. adelaidis. This is one of the pioneer studies in Pakistan reporting the role of water striders as a bioindicator of heavy metals present in the water through antioxidants enzyme variations. The current results supported that variant level of antioxidant enzyme activities in different species of water strider were reflective of heavy metal pollution in the Industrial triangle of Punjab, Pakistan and will be a useful ecotoxicological tools to evaluate the detrimental effects of heavy metal pollutants in aquatic organisms.

CHANGES IN IRISIN RELEASE IN RESPONSE TO PERIPHERAL KISSPEPTIN-10 ADMINISTRATION IN HEALTHY AND OBESE ADULT MEN.

CONTEXT: Kisspeptin role in metabolism has been implicated recently. However, the nature of the signals that may connect body fat/muscle tissues with the central nervous system governing energy homeostasis remains to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to investigate the effects of peripheral kisspeptin-10 administration on irisin release in human males. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Kisspeptin-10 was administered to normal weight (n=8) and obese (n=8) men. Sequential blood sampling was performed for 30 minutes pre and 210 minutes post kisspeptin injection at 30 minutes interval. ELISA kit was used to detect plasma irisin levels. RESULTS: There is a significant (P<0.0001) effect of Kisspeptin-10 administration on irisin release in both normal weight and obese participants. Mean irisin levels (96.24 ± 1.351 ng/mL) at 210 minutes were significantly (P<0.0001) enhanced as compared to pre-kisspeptin (59.18 ± 4.815 ng/mL) in normal weight subjects. In obese subjects mean irisin levels (75.76 ± 4.06 ng/mL) were significantly (P<0.0001) elevated at 180 minutes post-kisspeptin when compared with pre-kisspeptin irisin levels (41.28 ± 2.89 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that kisspeptin may have a novel therapeutic potential to induce irisin release in humans which may have anti-obesity effects.