iNOS Immunoreactivity in the Gastric Mucosa of Rats Feedind with Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

Abstract

The mussels are living things that collect the pollutants in sea water and filter the sea water. Although there are few data about the toxicity of seafood that is exposed to environmental pollution, there are no animal studies about the gastric toxicity of mussels grown in the Dardanelles. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) immunoreactivity in the gastric tissues of rats which are fed with mussels that are collected from the Çamburnu region of the Dardanelles. For this purpose, four groups (n = 6) of rats were included in the study. The control group received standard rat feed every day. The second group was given 75% mussels every day and 25% standard rat diet. The third group received a 75% mussel and 25% standard rat diet every two days. The fourth group was given 75% mussels and 25% standard rat diet every three days. iNOS immunoreactivity was detected 0% in control group, 29.17% in the second group, 28.83% in the third group and 13.33% in the fourth group. There was statistically significant difference between the iNOS immunoreactivity of epithelial cells in the gastric mucosa of the rats in the experimental and control groups (p> 0.05). Detection of iNOS in the gastric mucosa of rats fed with mussel that we use in our work suggests that it may promote digestive system diseases.

Keywords: Mussels, Dardanelles, iNOS, Immunohistochemistry, Stomach.