BIOACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS MIXTURE AND ITS EFFECT ON DETOXIFICATION ENZYMES OF WOLF SPIDER, PARDOSA OAKLEYI

The relationship between detoxifying enzymes and heavy metal body burden in the spider Pardosa oakleyi was assessed. Superficial layer of soil was sampled from three field sites which varied in their physico-chemical characteristics and was analyzed for heavy metals (Cr and Cu) contents. Spiders were also sampled from the same field sites and were analyzed for these metal contents. The activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), acetylcholiesterase (AChE), carboxylesterase (CarE) and Cytochrome P450 (Cyt P 450) was also assayed in the spiders. In the soil, the concentration of Cr ranged from 13 to 114 ug / g and Cu from 28 to 112 ug / g. Metal body burden in spiders from three sites also varied from 5 to 74 ug / g of Cr and 32 to 81 ug / g of Cu. A negative relationship was observed between concentration of Cr and Cu in the soil and in the body of spiders collected from the field site. A strong negative relationship was observed in the levels of GST, AChE and CarE and metal quantity in spider's body. Cytochrome P450 did not show any relationship with the metal body burden of spiders. The results indicate that high bioaccumulation of heavy metals of Cr and Cu leads to decrease activity of detoxifying enzymes.