Impact of environmental and chemical stress on the activity of the acetylcholinesterase and glutathione S-transferase during reproduction of Scolopendra morsitans (Myriapoda Chilopoda) in the north-east of Algeria

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the terrestrial environment quality along the east of Algeria using an approach based on biomarkers in the Chilopoda Scolopendra morsitans. Individuals were collected from four stations in the two sites (Annaba and Tebessa) based on the level of pollution. The non-urbanized sites were considered as a healthy reference site. The biomarkers selected during this study were the activities of acetylcholinesterase as neurotoxicity marker, glutathione S-transferase as phase II enzyme of stress marker. The results show differences between sites compared with the reference samples. This approach confirms that individuals from the polluted stations have been submitted to highly polluted environment. Individuals collected from these stations show the highest reduction of the mean of body and ovarian weight as well as the highest inhibition or induction of enzyme activities indicating a highly contamination status. The same results have been observed after injection of the ecdysteroid analog (RH-0345).