TOXIC EFFECTS OF COPPER SULPHATE PENTAHYDRATE ON ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME ACTIVITIES AND LIPID PEROXIDATION OF FRESHWATER FISH CAPOETA UMBLA (HECKEL, 1843) TISSUES

Abstract

Copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO4.5H(2)O) is commonly used as a general biocide in the agricultural fields surrounding freshwater reservoirs. So the aim of the present study was to investigate the toxic effects of CuSO4.5H(2)O by examining oxidative damage markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA) for lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant enzymatic defense system components (glutathione reductase (GR), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT)) in freshwater fish Capoeta umbla (Heckel, 1843) liver, kidney and gill. In this purpose, the 96 h LC50 values (with 95\% confidence limits) of CuSO4.5H(2)O for C. umbla was estimated as a 1.478 mg/L. Three different CuSO4.5H(2)O sublethal doses (0.185, 0.370 and 0.739 mg/L) were administered to C. umbla at different time intervals (12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h). Antioxidant enzyme activities and MDA levels were measured spectrophotometrically. Liver, kidney and gills samples were collected at the end of the experiment, and analysed for their oxidant-antioxidant status, including MDA level, GR, G6PD, SOD, CAT and GPx activities. Results obtained showed that CuSO4.5H(2)O, significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the GR, G6PD and GPx activities, but increased (P < 0.05) the CAT, SOD activities and MDA levels of C. umbla liver, kidney and gill tissue in a dose-dependent manner. However, CuSO4.5H(2)O exposure did not cause to changes significantly (P < 0.05) in enzyme activities and MDA levels of C. umbla liver, kidney and gill tissue in a time-dependent manner.