Evaluation of enzyme biomarkers in freshwater invertebrates from Taro and Ticino river, Italy

Benthic macroinvertebrates are an essential component of freshwater environments. The ecotoxicological risk of benthic communities, estimated through the assay of biochemical markers, can be used as an early warning signal for environment alterations. In this work the activities of a number of enzymes, regarded as potential biomarker of exposure to pollutants (catalase, acetylcholinesterase, glutathione-S-transferase) was determined in homogenates of whole organisms. Specimens were collected in the rivers Taro and Ticino, northern Italy, in stony bottom reaches in five and three stations respectively. The orders of aquatic Insects Diptera, Plecoptera, Odonata, Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera, the Crustacea Amphipoda, and Annelida Oligochaeta were examined. Additional enzymes, such as NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase, isocitric dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase were considered in the study. Results emphasize significant differences among taxa concerning the specific activity of most enzymes.