Analysis of antioxidants and serum biochemical responses in goldfish under nickel exposure by sub-chronic test

Abstract

The nickel impacts on antioxidant enzymes’ activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and hepatic enzymes’ activity were studied in freshwater carassius auratus. Probite analysis was used to determine acute toxicity of nickel to the goldfish. Fish were subjected to selected concentrations of nickel (control 0, 10, 20, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 ppm) and the mortality data were determined after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. The 96 h LC50 value of nickel to the fish was found to be 95.39 ± 0.73 ppm. SOD, GPx and CAT activities were monitored in the liver. These were determined in goldfish exposed to sub-lethal concentrations (40% and 80% LC50 at 7 days of exposure). There was a marked increase in SOD within both exposure groups and GPx was observed in this tissue having exposure to nickel (P < .05) but CAT was decreased in both the groups (P < .05). AST, ALP, ALT enzymes’ activity in both groups (40% and 80% LC50) was increased significantly when compared to that of the control group (P < .05). This result implied that increasing the dosage of nickel exposure induced antioxidant and hepatic enzymes’ activity in the goldfish.