Arsenic-induced oxidative stress in fresh water catfish Tilapia mossambica

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate bioaccumulation potential of arsenic and changes in oxidative stress indices in liver tissue from arsenic exposed fish Tilapia mossambica were used for the present investigation. The Tilapia mossambica were exposed to two non lethal doses of arsenic for 10 days, which induced tissue lipid peroxidation, increased the ratio of oxidized to reduced glutathione and produced excess H₂O₂ within 1–2 days of exposure. Furthermore, arsenic treatment increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase but decreased glutathione reductase (GR) activity within a day of exposure, indicating the generation of oxidative stress in fish at an early stage. It is therefore concluded that peroxisomal H₂O₂ metabolizing enzymes are potential targets of arsenic toxicity in Tilapia mossambica.