Cypermethrin induced behavioral and biochemical changes in mahseer, Tor putitora

The purpose of this study was to evaluate behavioral responses and biochemical changes induced by the extensively used pesticide cypermethrin (CYP) in liver, gills, brain and muscle tissues of mahseer (Tor putitora) fry. Behavioral changes in fish after exposure to an acute concentration of CYP involved jumping, abrupt swimming, loss of balance and equilibrium, increased surface activity and air gulping. These changes were more prominent with the passage of time. After a longer period of exposure, the fish became sluggish and before dying occasionally became motionless and sometimes showed a vertical position. Internal hemorrhage was also obvious. CYP exposure resulted in a significant decrease in total protein content in different tissues while antioxidant enzymes, catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and glutathione reductase (GR) showed a time-dependent increasing trend in their activities in liver, brain, gills and muscle tissues. Similarly, lipid peroxidation (LPO) level also increased with time in different tissues of CYP-exposed fish. The results of the present study revealed that CYP is toxic to the mahseer Tor putitora. Therefore, its indiscriminate use can contribute in decreasing the population of mahseer in natural water bodies.