Antioxidant defences and lipid peroxidation in wild White Storks, Ciconia ciconia, from Spain

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Oropesa, AL (Author) Other; Gravato, C (Author) Other; Guilhermino, L. (Author) ICBAS; Soler, F (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Ornithology

Vol. 154

Pages: 971-976

ISSN: 0021-8375

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 1 Citation

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-006-72B

DOI: 10.1007/s10336-013-0964-1

Abstract (EN): Despite the ecological importance of the White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, and its wide distribution in southern Europe, knowledge of the impact of long-term exposure to pollution in its wild populations is still scarce. As a first step towards contributing to addressing this question, the baseline values of anti-oxidant parameters and peroxidation levels were determined in wild White Storks, and possible differences related to age were investigated. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, total glutathione, reduced and oxidised glutathione ratio and lipid peroxidation were determined. Superoxide dismutase activity and the level of total glutathione were statistically higher in adult compared to juvenile storks. The reduced and oxidised glutathione ratio and the lipid peroxidation level followed also the same trend, although no significant differences were found between adults and juveniles. On the contrary, catalase and glutathione peroxidase showed low activities in adults when compared to juvenile storks. Finally, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase activities were similar in two groups of birds studied. Thus, it can be concluded that the period of enzymatic activity in adolescence in wild White Storks is very important in forming the organism's response to environmental stress.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6