Mercury induced haematological and biochemical anomalies in Ophiocephalus (Channa) punctatus

The effect of LC50 (1.8 mg/l) and a sublethal (0.3 mg/l) concentration of mercuric chloride on the blood of a teleost fish, Ophiocephalus (Channa) punctatus (the freshwater murrel-soley) was observed at 96 h and 15 and 30 days. Haemoglobin and haematocrit decreased after exposure, but no marked alteration was observed in total plasma protein. Glucose, cholesterol, urea, sodium, chloride, calcium and phosphate increased after acute and chronic exposures. Glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and amylase activities increased after exposure to LC50 for 96 h and to the sublethal concentration for 15 and 30 days. No marked alteration was observed in acid phosphatase activity. Alkaline phosphatase activity decreased in acute exposure, and increased in chronic exposure. Cholinesterase activity decreased after both acute and chronic exposures.