IMPACT OF CADMIUM CHLORIDE ON THE ATPASE ACTIVITY OF DIFFERENT ORGANS OF A FRESHWATER FISH, OREOCHROMIS MOSSAMBICUS, PETERS

摘要

Fishes were exposed to graded series of concentrations of cadmium chloride for acute toxicity studies. The MAC value deduced was 1.25 mg/L of cadmium chloride in 50 litres of water for 30 days. A safety concentration of 1.20 mg/L of Cadmium chloride l~(-50) was selected for this study. Exposed fishes appeared lethargic when compared to the control fish. Exposed fishes showed erratic movements, loss of equilibrium, gradual onset of inactivity etc.when compared to the control fish. The brain, liver, muscle, kidney and gill of the exposed fish accumulated 0.53, 22.34, 0.063, 28.9 and 0.59 mg of Cadmium/gm samples after 28d of exposure, respectively. Around 18.62, 61.25, 65.86, 40.11 and 76.1% excretion / removal of cadmium was marked afetr 28d of recovery. Significant depletion of total ATPase activity in the cadmium chloride exposed fish tissues, when compared to control fish tissues was marked. The exposed fish muscle tissue was highly affected, where 76.9% depletion in the activity was noted. The exposed brain tissue was least affected. This depletion in the enzyme activity affected the movements of ions across the membrane and severely affected the energy metabolism and disturbed energy budget of the fish.