No abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the adverse effects of lead, a well-documented non-essential element that occurs naturally in the environment, on Channa punctatus, in relation with ROS production and oxidative stress. Fishes were sampled, acclimatized and kept treated or untreated with lead (9.43 mg/L) under observation for 4 days. At day 4, respiratory burst activity, lipid peroxidation activity and superoxide dismutase level increased significantly in treated group as compared to the control. On the contrary, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and reduced glutathione activity decreased on treatment with lead. These results suggest that heavy metal like lead induces oxidative stress, influences the antioxidant defense system and may lead to physiological disorders rendering the health and survival of exposed fish to a compromised state.