Author(s): Moriom Begam, Mahuya Sengupta

Abstract: The present study aims to analyse the oxidative stress responses induced by sub-lethal concentrations of mercury and their effect on antioxidant defences in the intestinal macrophages of fresh water teleost Channa punctatus (Bloch 1793). The release of pollutants, especially heavy metals, into the aquatic environment is known to cause detrimental effects to the aquatic environment and to the organisms living therein as well as humans by entering the food chain. In the present study, samples of C. punctatus (Bloch 1793) were exposed to a sub-lethal concentration of mercury (0.3mg/L). After 4 days and 7 days of exposure, in the treated group, induction of oxidative stress in the intestine was evident from increased respiratory burst activity and lipid peroxidation levels. There were significant ultrastructural changes like fragmented epithelium, lesions in mucosal foldings, disoriented microvilli as evident from transmission electron micrographs. The antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) showed changes in a time dependent pattern, suggesting the use of these antioxidants as potential biomarkers of toxicity associated with exposure of freshwater fish to contaminants.



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