AGE-DEPENDENT PECULIARITIES OF THE OXIDATIVE STRESS PARAMETERS AND ANTIOXIDANTS CONTENT IN THE LIVER OF SCORPION FISH SCORPAENA PORCUS L. IN THE COASTAL WATERS OF THE BOLSHOI CAUCASUS

Comparative study of size-weight characteristics, lipid peroxidation (LPO) parameters and antioxidants content in the liver of marine scorpion fish Scorpaena porcus caught in the coastal waters of the Caucasus at the region of Shepsy village demonstrated age-related differences. The increase of the size and weight, the mass of the liver and gonads was observed in the elder fish, while the condition index varied less. Liver somatic index (LSI) increased in 2-3 years old animals, in the elder fish the growth of this parameters was slowly. Significant increase of gonadosomatic index (GSI) was noted in 4-5 years old animals, while the differences between 2 and 3 years groups were not observed. Lipid oxidation index and relative concentration of the ketodiens did not vary in age. Content of dien conjugates in hepatic lipids was significantly lower (p<0,001) in 3-4 years old fish as compared with the parameters of other studied age groups. TBA-reactive products concentration in the hepatic lipids increased with age and the highest values were observed in 5-6 years old animals. Significant correlation was shown between the content of TBA-reactive products in fish liver and the animals age (r = 0,88, p<0,05), while between the other studied parameters and fish age no significant relations were noted. Vitamin A and carotenoids concentration did not vary with age, however the tendency to increase was observed in 4 years old fish. The reasons of the growth of reactive oxygen species processes (ROS) and the increase of lipid peroxidation compounds concentration can be connected with the decrease of the defense mechanisms of the organism and the damage biomolecules, genetic defects, cell pathologies, tissues and organs and accumulation of xenobiotics in the fish, which impact the organism, accompanied with the oxidative stress. In elder animals the concentration of toxic substances is greater, and together with the decrease of the defense systems the cumulative toxic effect becomes mote considarable. The obtained results in this study provide the additional information for the understanding of the mechanisms of ROS theory of aging at the case of vertebrates of the natural populations. Further investigations could be strengthening to the study the role of endo- and exogenous conditions, modulating the age processes in aquatic organisms, which is important for the ontogenesis mechanisms and they dependence on natural and anthropogenic factors.