Glutathione-dependent resistance of the European eel Anguilla anguilla to the herbicide molinate

Eels of species Anguilla anguilla were exposed to 5/4 LC50 (41.8 mg/l) of the herbicide molinate for 96 h in a time to death (TTD) test. Glutathione content (GSx, GSH, GSSG), glutathione reductase (GR) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) activities were determined in the liver and muscle tissues of dead and surviving (intoxicated) animals and compared to control values (non-exposed eels). TTD was positively correlated to hepatic GSH, GSH:GSSG ratio, hepatic and muscular GR, but negatively correlated to muscular GSH, which was severely depleted. Furthermore, glutathione and enzyme activities were intercorrelated, especially GSH and GR. These results indicate that eels which were abl…