Stress protein response and catalase activity in freshwater planarian Dugesia (Girardia) schubarti exposed to copper

The hsp60 expression pattern and catalase activity in the freshwater planarian Dugesia schubarti exposed to copper under laboratory conditions were investigated. In the hsp60 induction experiments, planarians were exposed to a range of copper concentrations (0–960 μg Cu/L) for 4 or 24 h, to concentrations of 50 or 100 μg Cu/L for 2, 4, 8, and 24 h at 19°C, and to heat shock at 27°C for 24 h. The concentrations of hsp60 in whole-body homogenates were determined immunochemically by Western blotting. Stress protein induction was detected only after 24 h treatment at 27°C. The tissue concentration of hsp60 remained unaltered in Cu-exposed planarians under the experimental conditions used. Catalase activity was significantly induced at concentrations of 40, 80, and 160 μg Cu/L after 24 h exposure. Our results suggest that catalase levels in planarians could represent biomarkers of interest for the estimation of copper effects in freshwater ecosystems.