Investigation of the biochemical response of Gammarus pulex to different pharmaceuticals

The aim of this study was to determine the biochemical response of different Pharmaceuticals (sertraline, ibuprofen, propranolol) on an aquatic organism Gammarus pulex. LC50 values were determined by exposing G. pulex to drugs at different concentrations for 96 hours. As a result of probit analysis, sertraline, Ibuprofen and propranolol LC50 values were determined as 0.0087 ± 0.002 µgL-1, 3.18 ± 0.3 µgL-1 and 0.72 ± 0.08 µgL-1, respectively. G. pulex organisms were exposed to sublethal concentrations of sertralin 1/4 (A), propranolol 1/8 (B) and ibuprofen 1/16 (C) of LC values. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (KAT) enzyme activities and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme activities were determined in four groups including control group by using ELISA kits. There was a statistically significant decrease in SOD enzyme activity in all three doses depending on 24 hour sertraline administration (p>0.05). CAT enzyme activity was significantly increased of each administration dose at the of the 24 and 96 hours (p>0.05). A significant increase was found in AChE enzyme activity after sertraline administration (p>0.05). There was a significant decrease in SOD enzyme activity for each administration doses at the end of 24 hours depending on the administration of ibuprofen p<0.05). SOD enzyme activity increased after 96 hours, but this increase was not statistically significant (p>0.05). CAT enzyme activity after 24 and 96 hours for all three application groups increased significantly compared to control. (p<0.05). AChE enzyme activity showed a general decline at the end of the 24 hour, but increased at the end of the 96th hour (p<0.05). SOD enzyme activity showed a statistically insignificant decrease at the end of 24 hours depending on propranolol administration (p>0.05), but increased significantly at 96 hour (p<0.05). CAT enzyme activity; generally decreased after 24 hours but decreased 96 hours. There was a statistically significant decrease in AChE enzyme activity after 24 hours depending on propanol administration. At the end of 96th hour, the decrease was not significant (p>0.05). When the changes in SOD, KAT and AChE enzyme activities against sertraline, ibuprofen and propranololl drugs in G. pulex were considered, these enzymes could be used as useful biomarkers.