Exposure effects to the harmful algal bloom (HAB)-dependent marine biotoxin domoic acid on the antioxidant network of the mussel Mytilus edulis platensis.

The objective was to study domoic acid (DA) effects on the oxidative status and antioxidant system in Mytilus edulis platensis digestive glands (DG) and hemocytes. Reactive species in DG showed increases at 30 and 64 µM DA, and in hemocytes it decreased at all DA concentrations. Catalase activity showed non-significant differences in DG, and in hemocytes it decreased at 30 µM DA. The DG total glutathione peroxidase activity showed increases at 15 µM DA and decreases at 30 and 64 µM, but in hemocytes decreased at all DA treatments. In the DG, the glutathione reductase activity remained constant, but in hemocytes increased at 15 and 30 µM DA. The glutathione-S-transferase activity was reduced in the DG but was increased in hemocytes. The defense response activation followed different patterns among tissues due to their particular physiology and metabolic functions, revealing the importance to understand the metabolism of this valuable economic mussel.