Journal of Advanced Laboratory Research in Biology

E-ISSN: 0976-7614
Volume 8, Issue 2, April 2017
PP 41-43
https://e-journal.sospublication.co.in

Research Article

Changes in total protein in Liver and Kidney of freshwater fish, Channa

punctatus (Bloch.) after intoxication of Carbaryl
Ashvani Kumar1*, Surendra Singh1 and H.N. Sharma2
1
Department of Zoology, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra-282002, India.
2
Department of Environmental Toxicology, School of Life Sciences, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra-282002,
India.

Abstract: Pesticides are one group of toxic compounds linked to human use that have a profound effect on
aquatic fauna. Fish may be good indicators of contamination by pollutants because their biochemical responses
are quite similar to found in mammals. Studies on toxic effects of carbaryl (a carbamate pesticide) on liver and
kidney of freshwater fish Channa punctatus have been made. The LC50 value of carbaryl was calculated
10.05mg/l for various time periods 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs. The study was conducted to investigate the total protein
changes in the liver and kidney of freshwater fish, Channa punctatus exposed to different sub-lethal
concentrations of pesticide carbaryl for a period of 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and up to 90 days. Carbaryl intoxication in
Channa punctatus caused significant decrease in total protein in liver and kidney as compared to control. The
reasons for such changes have been discussed in this paper.

Keywords: Pesticides, LC50, Carbaryl, Channa punctatus, Protein.

1. Introduction includes insecticides, herbicides, and rodenticides, as

well as disinfectants, fumigants and wood preservatives.
Fisheries and aquatic resources are exceptionally These have a vital role in controlling agricultural,
valuable natural assets enjoyed by millions of the industrial, home, garden and public health pests
people and play an important role in maintaining the globally. The public has been tolerant of their use
economy of any country. Fish are known to be the because they have the ability to reduce the level of
richest source of high-quality protein. In India, where vector born diseases and have offered lower cost, better
protein deficiency in wreak havoc on the health of quality goods, and services to society. However, these
millions of underprivileged and malnourished economic and health benefits are not achieved without
population, the pisciculture can prove to be a boon in potential risk and possible adverse health effects on
overcoming this problem. But the pollution of the human, animals and the environment. It has been
aquatic environment is a serious and growing problem estimated that 85-90% of the pesticides applied in
for fisheries and aquatic resources. Discharge of agriculture never reach their target organisms, but
untreated industrial water contaminated with harmful instead are dispersed in the air, water, and soil. Based
chemicals directly to the ecosystem increases the upon such estimates, pesticide exposure is likely for
concentration of such chemicals into the aquatic non-target organisms.
environment, has led to metals, pesticides, and other Carbaryl is the common name for the carbamic acid
pollutants, consequently various deleterious effects on derivative of 1-naphthyl-n-methyl carbamate. It is sold
the aquatic organisms (Oketola and Osibanjo, 2009). in the market under many trade names like Sevin,
Such contaminants change the quality of water (Bhagat, Adios, Carbamec and Slam. The technical grade
2008) directly and indirectly via the food chain (Sasaki product is a white crystalline solid, with low volatility.
et al., 1997). It is soluble in water, which is stable to light and heat
Pesticides are agents used to kill or control but easily hydrolysed in alkaline media. Carbaryl is
undesired pests, such as insects, weeds, rodents, fungi, toxic to a wide variety of living organisms not
bacteria or other organisms. The terms “pesticides” considered pests, including beneficial arthropods, birds,

*Corresponding author:
E-mail: [email protected].
Changes in total protein in Channa punctatus after carbaryl intoxication Kumar et al

fish, earthworms, plants, and bacteria. In most cases, 3. Result and Discussion
carbaryl is both acutely toxic and causes a variety of
sublethal effects. Carbaryl is rapidly absorbed in the Total protein content was selected in the present
lungs and digestive tract. The principal metabolite in study for evaluating the effect of carbaryl in liver and
humans is 1-naphthol. Under normal exposure kidney of Channa punctatus for 90 days. The results are
conditions, the accumulation of carbaryl in animals is obtained by measuring total protein in liver and kidney
unlikely. of Channa punctatus exposed to different sub-lethal
The present study becomes more relevant since it concentrations of carbaryl for 90 days is summarized in
takes into consideration the effect of carbaryl Table-1.
intoxication, which is common, used in agriculture. In
the present study, significant decreases in total protein Table 1. Total protein in liver and kidney of Channa punctatus after
in the target organs, liver, and kidney have been different sub-lethal concentration of carbaryl.
recorded due to toxic effect of carbaryl.
Total Protein (After 90 Days of Treatment)
Treatment sets
In Liver In Kidney
2. Materials and Methods Control Set 84.85 ± 1.00 72.26 ± 1.10
2mg/l Treated 69.05 ± 0.60** 60.75 ± 1.05**
Freshwater fish, Channa punctatus were collected 4mg/l Treated 66.85 ± 0.50** 58.26 ± 0.92**
from the local fish market and were acclimatized for 7 6mg/l Treated 63.28 ± 0.99** 55.73 ± 0.88**
days in a large glass aquarium (80×80×50cms). The 8mg/l Treated 59.15 ± 0.98*** 52.32 ± 0.28***
LC50 of aldicarb for the fish was determined by using (Mean ± S.Em) all values in mg/gm
* Non-Significant;
linear regression method since 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs. ** Significant;
Then these fishes were exposed in four different sub- *** Highly Significant
lethal concentrations 2mg/l, 4mg/l, 6mg/l and 8mg/l of
carbaryl. The fish were sacrificed for control and The total protein content of the liver is maximum in
treated over 90 days. On each of control and treated control set, i.e. 84.85mg/gm, but in carbaryl treated
fish, the liver and kidney were dissected out, blotted of groups at 2, 4, 6 and 8mg/l total protein value decreased
blood, rinsed in the phosphate buffer saline and significantly up to 59.15mg/gm. This depletion of
immediately proceeded for biochemical estimation. protein from liver tissues may have been due to their
Total protein was estimated by the method of Biuret degradation and possible utilization of degraded
and Dumas (1971). The data were analyzed using products for metabolic purposes. The similar decrease
standard procedure and protocols for statistical in protein content was also recorded by Stepanowska et
calculations using SPSS 17 following Fischer and Yates al., (2006), Kumar et al., (2007), Srivastava and Verma
(1950). (2009) and Tilak et al., (2009). Decrease in liver protein
causes acute burns, dehydration, nephritic syndromes,
chronic liver diseases and other side effects.

90

80

70
Total protein (mg/dl)

60

50
liver
kidney
40

30

20

10

0
Control Set 2 mg/l 4 mg/l 6 mg/l 8 mg/l
Treatment sets

J. Adv. Lab. Res. Biol. 42

Changes in total protein in Channa punctatus after carbaryl intoxication Kumar et al

In kidney, the total protein content was [6]. Mustafa, S. (1983). Changes in Biochemical
72.26mg/gm in control set, while this value decreased composition in Starving Catfish Heteropneustes
significantly up to 52.32mg/gm with a treated set of fossilis. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology, 29(4):
8mg/l concentration of carbaryl. This decrease in 416-420.
protein value due to the loss of total protein in tissues [7]. Oketola, A.A. and Osibanjo, O. (2009). Industrial
that are associated with intensive proteolysis and pollution load assessment by industrial pollution
inhibition of protein degradation the similar findings projection system (IPPS). Toxicological &
were also found by Mustafa (1983), Tripathi et al., Environmental Chemistry, 91(5): 989-997. DOI:
(2003), Begum (2003), Jaroli and Sharma (2005) and 10.1080/02772240802614564.
Koul et al., (2007). [8]. Sasaki, Y.F., Izumiyama, F., Nishidate, E.,
Ishibashi, S., Tsuda, S., Matsusaka, N., Asano, N.,
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J. Adv. Lab. Res. Biol. 43