Natural organic matter (NOM) induces oxidative stress in freshwater amphipods Gammarus lacustris Sars and Gammarus tigrinus (Sexton).

Humic substances comprise the majority of natural organic matter (NOM) on Earth, including dissolved organic matter in freshwater systems. Recent studies show that these substances directly interact with aquatic organisms as chemical stressors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mode of action of dissolved NOM on the freshwater amphipods Gammarus lacustris Sars and Gammarus tigrinus (Sexton), and in particular, to determine if NOM induces or promotes internal oxidative stress. NOM was isolated by reverse osmosis from a brown-water lake in Brandenburg State, Germany. Oxidative stress markers, such as lipid peroxidation, cell internal hydrogen peroxide concentration, as well as peroxidase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities, were quantified. Exposure of both amphipod species to NOM caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide concentration, catalase, peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase activities. Both species showed a two-stage antioxidant response: the first stage allowed the organisms to effectively eliminate ROS and to protect cells from damage, whereas the second stage leads to H2O2 accumulation in combination with destruction of lipid structures in the cells and, finally, functional damage or even death of the organism.

Specific antioxidant reactions to oxidative stress promoted by natural organic matter in two amphipod species from Lake Baikal.

Aquatic organisms are exposed to a variety of natural chemical stressors such as humic substances. The aim of this study was to investigate the mode of action of natural organic matter (NOM, roughly 80% of which is humic substances) on two freshwater amphipods from Lake Baikal, Eulimnogammarus verrucosus (Gerstf.) and Eulimnogammarus cyaneus (Dyb.), in order to assess the potential oxidative stress of NOM impact. Chosen as oxidative stress markers were lipid peroxidation and cell internal hydrogen peroxide level as well as peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase activities. Exposure of amphipods to NOM caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation but a concomitant decrease in hydrogen peroxide concentration, and peroxidase and (to a lesser degree) glutathione S-transferase activities. An interim increase of catalase activity was observed. A possible reason for the decrease in major antioxidant enzyme activity is exhaustion of the reservoir of reduced substrates in the first stage of the antioxidant defense reaction. Despite the inhibition of major antioxidant enzymes, the studied amphipods were able to successfully resist the NOM oxidative impact and, at low NOM concentrations, to combat lipid peroxidation processes.