Abstract

The fresh water fish is an important human food source in India and the fish is constantly exposed to pesticides which are used extensively to control agricultural pests. Insecticide triazophos organophosphates (OP) altered protein metabolism in the liver, brain and kidney tissues of the fish Channa punctatus (Bloch). The total protein when exposed to different time periods decreased and free amino acids increased significantly. The enzymes which are involved in protein metabolism were altered significantly. The increase in activity of deaminases reveals the breakdown of nucleo-tides to yield excess energy to overcome the toxic pressure. Exposure to sublethal doses of triazophos extract caused significant (p < 0.05) time and dose dependent reduction in the levels of total protein, acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and significant enhancement in the levels of total free amino acids, glutamine, adenosine monophosphate (AMP) deaminases, adenosine deaminases, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and alkaline acid phosphatases, and the activity of enzyme protease in both liver, brain and kidney tissues of fresh water fish C. punctatus.

Key words: Triazophos (OP), Lc₅₀, protein metabolism, enzyme activity, Channa punctatus.

Abbreviation

Abbreviations: OP, Organophosphates; AchE, acetylcho-linesterase; AMP,adenosine monophosphate; GDH, glutamate dehydrogenase; AAT, aspartate aminotransferase;  ALAT, alanine aminotransferase.