CATALASE ACTIVITY IN MUSCA DOMESTICA L. ADULTS OF THE FIELD POPULATION IN COMPARISON WITH THE LABORATORY STRAIN

The antioxidant system plays an important role in the life of organisms. Its primary function is to protect against the damaging effects of excessive free radicals that lead to a state of oxidative stress. Enzymes of the insect antioxidant system may play a significant role in insecticide resistance. For insects, a number of antioxidant enzymes have been characterized, including catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione transferase and glutathione reductase. The role of catalase in this system is to break down hydrogen peroxide to form water and oxygen, thereby preventing membrane lipid peroxidation and cell damage. The aim of this study was to investigate catalase activity in adults of Musca domestica L. in field population. During homogenate production a comparative evaluation of the two-extraction media on catalase activity in adults of the laboratory strain of the house fly was also conducted. We found a statistically significant 1.12-fold increase in enzyme activity in adults of the field population compared to specimens of the laboratory strain of M. domestica. The catalase activity in homogenates prepared on 0.9% sodium chloride solution was statistically higher by 1.77-fold compared to the enzyme activity in homogenates on sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.6) with Triton-X 100. The study of the insect antioxidant system may be useful in addressing the problem of insect resistance to insecticides, thus allowing the regulation of insect populations.