Enzymatic Lipid Peroxidation in the Gonadal and Hepatopancreatic Microsomal Fraction of Cultivated Mussels (Mytilus edulis L.)

An active lipid peroxidizing enzyme system was investigated in microsomal fractions isolated from the gonad and hepatopancreatic tissue of live cultivated mussels. Enzyme‐mediated lipid peroxidation was detected in gonad microsomes and was shown to be dependent upon the presence of NADH, ADP, and Fe3+ ions. A marked increase in the peroxidizing capacity of gonadal microsomes was observed following lipid emulsion loading. Fresh microsomes prepared from hepatopancreatic tissue showed no detectable levels of lipid peroxidizing activity. However, freeze‐thaw treatment of microsomes from both gonadal and hepatopancreatic tissues resulted in an initiation of activity in the hepatopancreatic tissue and increased the existing activity of the gonad microsomes.