Authors : E.A.A. Olojo, A.A. Abass, K.B. Olurin and G. Mbaka
Abstract: Some protein metabolism parameters were monitored to assess their potential use as bio-indicators of heavy metal stress in the African catfish Clarias gariepinus. A total 45 adult fishes were treated to continuous exposure of two sub-lethal concentrations of lead (T1 0.006 and T2 0.008 mg L-1) for a period of 42 days. The recovery rate was also assessed over a 7 days period in lead free water. The gill and liver tissues were analyzed every 14 days for examination of their protein biochemistry. The parameters analyzed include Total Crude Protein (TCP), Alanine Aminotransaminase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), Glucomate Dehydrogenase (GDH), Free Ammo Acids (FAA) and ammonia. There was a reduction in the TCP, ALT and GDH in both gill and liver tissues below the control values while the parameters such as ALT, AST, FAA and ammonia in both tissues showed an increment above the control values. The pattern of variation of the protein metabolism parameters of the gill and liver tissues and their recovery were discussed. The effect of lead on protein metabolism parameters showed their potential use as biomarkers in monitoring the level of lead toxicity in the fish.
E.A.A. Olojo, A.A. Abass, K.B. Olurin and G. Mbaka, 2012. The Potential Use of Certain Protein Metabolism Parameters as Biomarkers of Heavy Metal (Lead) Stress in the African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Agricultural Journal, 7: 316-322.