Nuran Cikcikoglu Yildirim

Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Drinking Water Samples of Tunceli, Turkey

The drinking water quality is associated with the conditions of the water supply networks, the pollution and the contamination of groundwater with pollutants of both anthropogenic and natural origin. In this study, water samples were taken from four different waterworks in Tunceli, Turkey and heavy metals concentrations (As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni and Hg) were measured. Four sampling sites were pre-defined in different locations of the city. The obtained results showed that, the heavy metals concentrations in water samples did not exceed the values of WHO (World Health Organization), EC (Europe Community), EPA (Environment Protection Agency) and TSE-266 (Turkish Standard) guidelines.

Use of acetylcholinesterase, glutathione S-transferase and cytochrome P450 1A1 in Capoeta umbla as biomarkers for monitoring of pollution in Uzuncayir Dam Lake (Tunceli, Turkey)

Uzuncayir Dam Lake is one of the most important water bodies in Tunceli. It is polluted by domestic wastewaters together with natural contamination and pesticides, which have had cumulatively negative effects. This study analyzes the effects of pollution by using the fish species, Capoeta umbla as a sentinel species, with a biomarker approach. The approach comprehends a general biomarker of individual fish health, the condition factor and specific biomarkers of contaminant exposure such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) and cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. The general water physico-chemical parameters were measured at each sampling sites during each fish-sampling period. Strong seasonal and locational variations were observed among selected markers. In conclusion, the multibiomarker approach used in the present study clearly revealed differences in the fish health among reference and potentially contaminated sites. The study shows that changes of biomarkers such as acetylcholinesterase, glutathione S-transferase and cytochrome P450 1A1 might be useful for the assessment of environmental contamination in the Uzuncayir Dam Lake (Tunceli, Turkey).

Antioxidant Response in Duckweed After Exposure to Secondary Effluent from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant, Elazığ, Turkey

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of the effluent of Elazig Municipality Wastewater Treatment Plant on the oxidative defense capacity of aquatic plants (Lemna minor L. and Lemna gibba L.). For this purpose, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), vitamin A (retinol), vitamin E (α-tocopherol), and vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) levels were determined by the HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) in the control groups and the groups adapting to reactors fed with discharge water. The depletion of vitamins (A, E, and C), decrease of GSH/GSSG ratio, and increase of MDA that reflect a precarious state of the cell in L. minor L. and L. gibba L. were observed after exposure to wastewater. It can be suggested that the selected biomarkers are useful in understanding the biochemical mechanisms of the secondary effluents from wastewater treatment plant in L. minor L. and L. gibba L. as early warning indicators.

The using of Gammarus pulex as a biomonitor in ecological risk assessment of secondary effluent from municipal wastewater treatment plant in Tunceli, Turkey

ABSTRACT The objectives of this research are the assessment of secondary effluents (SEs) quality by evaluating chemical parameters and biomarkers. For this purpose, MDA and GSH levels were determined by spectrofotometer. SOD, CAT, and GPX activities were determined by using ELISA kit in the groups of control and the groups exposed to SE. The level of MDA and the activities of SOD in Gammarus pulex vary depending on the exposure time. GSH levels and GSH-PX activities increased in G. pulex exposed to the effluent compared to the control during 24 h and 96 h. CAT activities were in SE group were found lower than the control in G. pulex during 24 h and 96 h. Current experimental results show that SOD, CAT, GPX activities, and GSH and MDA levels in G. pulex are sensitive and appropriate responses for assess the effects of anthropogenic contaminants on the aquatic ecosystems, particularly effluent complex mixtures.

Biochemical responses of Gammarus pulex to malachite green solutions decolorized by Coriolus versicolor as a biosorbent under batch adsorption conditions optimized with response surface methodology

The current study was aimed to investigate the detoxifying and antioxidant enzyme response of Gammarus pulex exposed to malachite green (MG) after decolorization by Coriolus versicolor. Response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to optimize the decolorization conditions of MG synthetic solutions by C. versicolor. Glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) activities in G. pulex exposed to undecolorized (A1) and decolorized (A2) MG synthetic solution during 24 and 96 h were tested by using ELISA method. SOD and GPX enzyme activity was increased after decolorization (p > 0.05). CAT enzyme activity was increased in A2 group during 24 h (p > 0.05) but decreased during 96 h (p < 0.05). GSH levels were increased in A2 group during 24 and 96 h (p < 0.05). GST, CYP1A1 enzyme activity and MDA levels were decreased after decolorization during 96 h (p < 0.05). In this study, GSH levels, CAT, GST and CYP1A1 activities in G. pulex approved the capability of C. versicolor in MG decolorization, optimized with RSM.

Biochemical impacts of the textile dyes Remazol Brillant Blue R and Congo Red on the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus (Decapoda, Astacidae)

In this study, we determined the effects of the textile dyes Remazol Brillant Blue R (RBBR) and Congo Red (CR) on the enzymatic activities of Glutathione S-Transferase (GST), cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), in hepatopancreas of Astacus leptodactylus . The crayfishes were exposed to 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/l of RBBR or CR, for 24 and 48 h. The recorded GST activity clearly increased after 24 or 48 h exposure to CR, compared to a control group (p 0.05). The activity of CYP1A1 generally decreased, but LDH activity increased in the groups exposed to different doses of CR and RBBR, when compared to their control groups. Detoxification enzymes (as GST, and CYP1A1) and metabolic enzymes (as LDH) can be proven to make useful markers for further evaluating the physiological effects of CR and RBBR on crayfish.

Adrenomedullin administration alters vascular endothelial growth factor levels in rats in cold stress

Abstract Background: Many endogenous peptides play important regulatory roles in angiogenesis by modulating endothelial cell behavior. Adrenomedullin (AdM) is one of such factors. Angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are indistinguishable. Exposure to cold environment stimulates capillary angiogenesis. Objectives: Examine the effect of the bioactive peptide AdM on VEGF levels in rat liver, lung, brain, and heart tissues after cold stress treatment. Methods: Male wistar rats were divided into four groups as control, AdM treatment, cold stress and AdM+cold stress treated groups. In AdM-treated group, animals received intraperitoneal injection of AdM (2000 ng/kg body weight) once a day during a week. For the cold stress exposure, the rats were kept in separate cages at 10°C for a week. Results: The administration of AdM increased VEGF levels in all tissues in cold exposed rats. Conclusion: AdM may be a major regulatory factor in angiogenesis by modulating VEGF levels that is closely associated with cold exposure-related metabolic stimulation.