The role of lipoic acid in the protection against of metallic pollutant effects in the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Crustacea, Decapoda).

The effects of cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As), dosed alone or in combination have been poorly investigated in crustaceans. Besides, it is not known if dietary supplementation of exogenous antioxidants, like lipoic acid (LA), might prevent or even reverse toxic effects of Cd and As. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the role of lipoic acid in modulating biochemical responses after Cd and As exposures in Litopenaeus vannamei. Muscle from shrimp exposed to Cd alone or Cd+As showed a decrease in glutathione (GSH) levels, while the pre-treatment with LA reversed this situation. In this tissue, the pre-treatment with LA also induced an increase in glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity in all groups.