The potential ameliorative impacts of rare earth element cerium in dimethoate induced toxicity in freshwater mussel Dreissena polymorpha

The purpose of this study was to measure the antioxidant parameters to examine the potential ameliorative impacts of the rare earth element (REE) cerium (Ce) in dimethoate (DM) induced toxicity in Dreissena polymorpha. Lethal concentration 50 (LC50) of DM for 96 h was measured. The antioxidant effect of Ce was investigated by exposure of 1/2 of the LC50 value of DM together with 4, 20 and, 100 mg/L of Ce to D. polymorpha. The responses of the biomarkers were determined by measuring the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. SOD, CAT, GPX and GSH levels were reduced (p < 0.05), while the MDA levels increased significantly (p < 0.05) in mussels exposed to DM. When DM was exposured together with Ce, it was observed that the MDA levels decreased, SOD, CAT, GPX and GSH levels increased during 24 and 96 h. The results of our study showed that Ce exerted a strong antioxidant effect on toxicity induced by DM. It has been shown that Ce may have a compensatory effect with the positive change in the antioxidant response of D. polymorpha to DM. This study is the first report about Ce and insecticide effects in bivalves.