Yuzuncu Yil University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, cilt.27, sa.3, ss.447-452, 2017 (Scopus)
Van Lake is the largest soda lake of Turkey and there is only one fish species (Van Fish, Alburnus tarichi Güldenstädt, 1814) that can survive under the extreme conditions of the lake. There are several researches carried out on the issue of lake contamination recently. Gonad abnormalities observed among these fish are one of the most important issues. In the present study, the malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), and the antioxidant enzyme levels such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH - Px) are compared in gills, livers, and gonads of the Van Fish (the ovary abnormality of which are determined in Van Lake) and the normal fish. Compared to the normal fish, the MDA levels of the abnormal fish show a considerable amount of increase in all of the tissues (P<0.05). There is a significant decrease in the SOD activity in the gill and ovary tissue and in the GSH - Px activity in the livers of the abnormal individuals compared to the normal individuals (P<0.05). As for the GSH levels, there is no difference found when the normal and abnormal tissues are compared. Consequently, when the fish with ovary abnormalities which are thought to be exposed to contaminators in a certain time period is compared to the normal fish, it can be said that their antioxidant defense systems are affected.