Chlordecone-induced changes in muscular antioxidant system of cichlid fish, Etroplus maculatus (Bloch, 1795)

Abstract

Chlordecone, an organochlorine compound used widely as an agricultural insecticide, miticide and fungicide, was exposed at sub lethal concentration (3.5 μg/ L) to cichlid fish, Etroplus maculatus for 24, 72 and 96 h. The acute toxic effects of chlordecone were evaluated on the muscle antioxidant system of fish by maintaining respective control groups. Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione reductase and the levels of lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide generation were assessed in the muscle tissue. There was a significant decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes with concomitant increase in hydrogen peroxide generation and lipid peroxidation in the muscle of treated animal than that of control groups. Muscle biomarker enzyme, alkaline phosphatase decreased in all treatment groups than that of control groups. It was therefore concluded that chlordecone exposure caused acute toxicity in fish that was revealed by the induction of oxidative stress in the muscle of Etroplus maculatus.
Keywords: Etroplus maculates; muscle; antioxidant enzymes; lipid peroxidation; alkaline phosphatase