A bu Za'baal Lakes are man-made lakes, formed by the fracture apd extract of rocks. The lakes, as other inland closed basins. receive their water from the ground and seepage waters. They consist of three lakes and another filling-phase lake. In the present study, the concentrations of some heavy metals {Fe. Zn. Mn. Pb. Cu and Cd) in water and organs (muscles, gills, liver and kidney) of O. niloticus. T, zillii and C. iazera collected from Abu Za'baai Lakes were measured during winter. 2004. The effects of the tested metals on the total protein and total lipid contents in the muscle and liver and on the histological structures of the gills. liver and kidneys of fish were studied.The present results showed that the levels of Fe. Zn. Mn. Pb. Cu and Cd in the water of Abu Za'baal lakes ranged between 3.22-6.0L 0.21-1.50. 0.67-1.64. 0.62-1.67. 0.13-0.20 and 0.03-0.06 mc/L respectively. The highest \ allies of metals were reported in the third lake, while their lowest values were in the first one.It was found that the metals were accumulated in different organs of the studied fish b> various levels. The concentration of the tested metals in different organs of (I niloticus and T zillii followed a sequence of: Fe. /n. Mn. Pb and Cd in muscles < gills < liver < kidnevs. however. Cu in muscles • uills < kidnevs < liver for (). nilolicus and in gills ■■ muscles ■ kidneys < liver for T. zillii. On the other hand, in C lazcra. Fe and Cu were in muscles < gills < kidneys < liver. Zn. Pb and Cd in muscles •' gills < liver --' kidneys and Mn in muscles < li\er -kidne\> gills. In general, the concentrations ol

No abstract

Biomarkers have recently been used in studies of aquatic environment. Here we present data on stress related bio-markers in Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) as indicators of aquatic pollution. The samples of study were collected from contaminated aquatic habitats (Qaroun Lake and its neighboring fish farm), in comparison with the reference site. Heavy metal concentrations as Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Cd were determined in the water and the fish tissues. Oxidative stress biomarkers (Malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, glutathione S transferase and catalase) together with endoplasmic reticulum stress biomarker (Caspase-12) were determined in both the blasma and the tissue samples. Histopathological examination of kidney and muscles with SDS electrophoresis of muscle proteins were used to study the influence of pollution on Nile tilapia. Heavy metal concentrations of water and tissue samples from contaminated habitats were significantly higher than the reference site. A highly significant difference in stress related biomarkers was recorded in the fish from contaminated habitats. Histopathological modulations and disrepairs were observed in fish tissues collected from contaminated habitats. Results have shown differences in banding pattern of muscle proteins of Nile tilapia collected from polluted sites. These results provide evidence that caspase-12 is a useful biomarker for aquatic pollutions.