Inter-Specific Differences in the Sensitivity, Accumulation and Antioxidant Capacities of Three Cyprinids Exposed to Heavy Metals Mixture
Inter-Specific Differences in the Sensitivity, Accumulation and Antioxidant Capacities of Three Cyprinids Exposed to Heavy Metals Mixture
Fariha Latif* and Muhammad Javed
ABSTRACT
The potential use of biochemical techniques along with antioxidant parameters has gained considerable attention due to their use as biomarkers to assess contaminants impact on fish at earlier level of exposure. Fish from different species has diverse ecological needs and respond differently to the environmental stress conditions. Thus, the sensitivity, bioaccumulation and antioxidant capacities of three major carps Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhina mrigala towards metals mixture (Cd+Cr+Cu+Pb) were determined during present research work. Sensitivity of the three fish species (120-day old) towards metals mixture was measured in term of 96 h LC50 and lethal concentration. These acute toxicity tests were performed at constant temperature (30oC), pH (8) and total hardness (250 mgL-1). All the three fish species varied significantly in their sensitivity towards metals mixture with the C. catla beingsignificantly highly sensitive followed by L. rohita and C. mrigala. After the acute toxicity tests, fish were exposed to 2/3rd of their respective 96 h LC50 of metals mixture for 90 days, after which amassing of metals were determined by Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer and antioxidant capacity was measured in terms of catalase activity in the gills, liver, kidney, muscles and brain. Among the fish species, C. mrigala accumulated significantly higher concentration of all metals as compared to L. rohita and C. catla. Bioaccumulation of all metals among the organs followed the order: liver>gills>kidney>brain>muscles, however, metals followed the trend for their accumulation: Cd>Cr>Cu>Pb. Antioxidant (catalase) activity decreased significantly in all the tissues as compared to control. Catalase activity varied significantly at p<0.05 among C. catla, L. rohita and C. mrigala. During present research the maximum catalase activity was observed in the liver followed by gills, kidney, brain and muscles. As a conclusion, the sensitivity, bioaccumulation and antioxidant capacities of different fish species based on their ecological and physiological differences may be useful for biomonitoring studies of aquatic ecosystems.
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June 2019
Vol. 51, Iss. 3, Pages 801-1202
