Lipid Peroxidation and Some Antioxidant Enzymes of C. gariepinus Fingerlings Exposed to Diethyl Phthalate

Aims: Diethyl phthalates an example of phthalates which are a group of multifunctional chemicals is one of the most frequently used phthalates for manufacturing numerous products. Its persistence in the waterways could cause metabolic changes in fishes. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the changes induced by DEP intoxication in fish antioxidant in fish system.

Study Design: Complete randomized design was used.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, wet laboratory and the experiment lasted for 21 days.

Methodology: One hundred and twenty fish were randomly divided into four treatment groups (A-D) in 25litre glass aquarium filled to 20 litres mark with aerated deep well water. The fish were subjected to sub lethal concentrations of DEP (0.01 ug/L, 0.03 ug/L and 0.05 ug/L) in a renewal bioassay system. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Lipid peroxidation (LPO) and total protein activity of liver and kidney was assayed in DEP exposed C. gariepinus.

Results: It was observed that DEP significantly lowered (P<0.05) CAT, SOD and GPx activity in the entire organ except LPO and total protein that had significantly (P<0.05) increased activity in all the organs at different concentrations of DEP. It can be elucidated that at different concentration of DEP, oxidative stress, total protein and antioxidant enzyme system on C. gariepinus was significantly disturbed.

Conclusion: DEP has being seen to cause alterations in antioxidant, lipid peroxidation and total protein of C. gariepinus. Therefore, there is need for more studies in the oxidative stress, antioxidant status, and biochemical alterations by DEP to fish species.