Biochemical Composition of Epidermal Secretions and Poisonous Spine of Two Freshwater Catfishes

Abstract

Biochemical composition of epidermal secretions and poisonous spine extracts of two freshwater catfishes, Heteropneustes fossilis and Clarias batrachus were estimated. Protein patterns of the two tissue extracts were compared using SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein content of epidermal secretions is higher than those of poisonous spine; In H. fossilis the difference is about 1.8 folds, but in C. batrachus, it is about 8 folds. Lipids of epidermal secretions in H. fossilis are about 2.8 folds higher than those of the poisonous spine. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) soluble peptides, ninhydrin positive substances show significant variation between the two tissues of C. batrachus but not in H. fossilis. The electrophoretic patterns exhibit more number of protein bands in the extracts of poisonous spine than those of epidermal secretions.