Effect of size, tissue parts and location on six biochemical markers in the green-lipped mussel, Perna viridis.

The effect of size and tissue parts as well as site locations on a suite of six anti-oxidative biochemical markers, viz. the enzyme degrading neural transmitters acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the Phase II transforming enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST), the anti-oxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), the lipid metabolite malondialdehyde (MDA) and the ratio of CAT/MDA, in the bivalve mollusc, Perna viridis, was studied. Field mussels were collected from the piers of University of Science and Technology (UST), Pak Sha Wan or Hebe Haven (PS) and Sai Kung (SK) in Port Shelter, Hong Kong. Statistically, ANOVA showed that the activity of all six biochemical markers were generally tissue dependent, size independent and location dependent. Tukey multi comparison test indicated that the biochemical activities fell into two groups, with SK the highest activity group in most cases. The significance of these findings in relation to long-term coastal water biomonitoring is discussed.