Fertilizer industry effluent induced biochemical changes in fresh water teleost, Channa striatus (Bloch)

The industrial activities pose threat to the life of aquatic organisms in many ways. This research communication presents an account of the impact of fertilizer industry effluent upon the levels of protein and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.28, LDH), a terminal key enzyme in glycolytic pathway, in different organs of a fresh water teleost fish, Channa striatus (Bloch). The fish exposed to different sublethal concentrations of fertilizer industry effluent (3.5, 4.7 and 7.0% v/v) equivalent to 1/20th, 1/15th and 1/10th of LC(50) value (70% v/v) for varying treatment periods (96 h and 15 days) exhibited decrease in the level of protein (8-76%) in different organs of the effluent treated fish. At highest effluent concentration (7% v/v) treatment for short (96 h) or long (15 days) duration, the liver of the fish registered significant (p < 0.001) decrease (62-76%) in protein content as compared to control, whereas other organs of the fish showed only 38-52% decrease in the level of protein. The industrial effluent also caused marked reduction in the activity of LDH in different fish tissues when compared to the control. The treatment of fish with 7% effluent concentration for 96 h caused 78% decrease (p < 0.001) in the LDH activity in fish muscle whereas after 15 days the effect was maximum in fish brain as it exhibited 86% decrease (p < 0.001) in LDH activity as compared to control. The effect of effluent on the activity of LDH and protein content in different body tissues of the fish was dependent on concentration and duration of exposure. The significant reductions in the activity of LDH and level of protein in fish tissues due to treatment with the fertilizer industry effluent indicated the possibility of impairments in energy metabolism and protein turnover, respectively, in C. striatus.