Journal of Environmental Biology

Potential use of acetylcholinesterase, glutathione-S-transferase and metallothionein for assessment of contaminated sediment in tropical chironomid, Chironomus javanus

A. Somparn1, C.B.? Iwai1,2* and B. Noller3

1Department of Plant Sciences and Agricultural Resources, Land Resources and Environment Division, Faculty of Agriculture,

Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand,40002.

????????? 2Integrated Water Resource Management Research and Development Center in Northeast Thailand, Khon Kaen, Thailand,40002.

????????? 3The University of Queensland, Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation (CMLR), ?? Brisbane, 4072 Australia.

*Corresponding Author?s E-mail : chulee_b@kku.ac.th

Publication Data

Paper received:

11 May 2014

Revised received:

14 February 2015

Accepted:

20 March 2015

Abstract

Heavy metals and organophosphorus insecticide is known to act as disruptors for the enzyme system, leading to physiologic disorders. The present study was conducted to investigate the potential use of these enzymes as biomarkers in assessment of contaminated sediments on tropical chironomid species. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and metallothionein (MT) activity was measured in the fourth-instar chironomid larvae, Chironomus javanus, Kieffer, after either 48-hr or 96-hr exposure to organophosphorus insecticide, chlorpyrifos (0.01- 0.25 mg kg-1) or heavy metal cadmium (0.1-25 mg kg^-1). Exposure to chlorpyrifos (0.01 mg kg^-1) at 48 and 96 hr significantly of AChE activity (64.2 % -85.9%) and induced GST activity (33.9 - 63.8 %) when compared with control (P<0.05). Moreover, exposure to cadmium (0.1mg kg^-1) at 48 and 96 hr also showed significant increas GST activity (11.7 - 40 %) and MT level (9.0 % - 70.5 %) when compared with control (P<0.05). The results indicated the impact of enzyme activity on chlorpyrifos and cadmium contamination. Activity of AChE, GST and MT could serve as potential biomarkers for assessment and biomonitoring the effects of insecticide and heavy metal contamination in tropical aquatic ecosystems. ?????  

 Key words

Acetylcholinesterase, Cadmium, Chlorpyrifos, Glutathione S-transferase, Metallothionein 

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