STRESSORS INDUCED GLUTATHIONE PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY IN LEPIDOPTERAN INSECT SILKWORM, BOMBYX MORI

Abstract

The present study, discuss the role of antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase to overcome free radicals produced under the influence of various stressors. A 24 hours exposure of silkworm, Bombyx mori to cold, hypoxia and nuclear polyhedral virus resulted in a significant increase in Glutathione peroxidase in the various tissue of both IV and V instars. However, upon recovery from stress, antioxidant enzyme activity returned to base value and larvae did not show any age dependent difference in glutathione peroxidase activity. All the results are discussed in the light of immediate response of poikilotherms to various stressors.