Differential sensitivity to vegetable tannins in planktonic crustacea fromalpine mosquito breeding sites

The differential capability to detoxify dietary tannins from the leaf litte r of the vegetation surrounding alpine mosquito communities was experimenta lly investigated in different strains of planktonic crustacean taxa (Daphni a pulex, Simocephalus vetulus, and Eucypris virens) associated with the cul icine populations. Tannic acid, used as an experimental standard, had diffe rential biocidal effects in strains associated with various surrounding veg etation with different phenolic contents. Such a differential sensitivity t o tannic acid was correlated with qualitative and quantitative features of cytochromes P-450, esterases, and glutathione S-transferases activities mea sured in these strains. This suggests that these enzymes are involved in th e detoxification of vegetable tannins by these crustacean taxa. Contributio n of cytochromes P-450, esterases, and glutathione S-transferases in the re sistance of Crustacea to those xenobiotics was also implied by the synergis tic effect in vivo of piperonyl butoxide and S,S,S, tributyl phosphorotrith ioate on the toxicity of tannins. (C) 2000 Academic Press.