Abstract

The study was performed to investigate changes in hematological responses and antioxidative enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT) of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica following exposure to 0 (control), 2.33, 4.60, 6,64 and 8.78 mM nitrite-N in fresh water for 48 h. Hematological parameters such as plasma nitrite, electrolytes, cortisol, glucose, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), hemoglobin (Hb), methemoglobin (metHb) and NADH-methemoglobin reductase (NMR) were measured. Plasma nitrite, cortisol, metHb and NMR increased directly with increasing ambient nitrite concentration, while Hb content showed a progressive decline. Levels of plasma potassium, GOT and GPT of the eel exposed to 6.64 mM ambient nitrite were significantly higher than the control fish. The activity of SOD and CAT in plasma, gill and liver of the eel following exposure to nitrite were augmented by increasing ambient nitrite. Levels of plasma nitrite, metHb, NMR, cortisol, glucose and antioxidative enzyme activities of the eel exposed to 2.33 mM ambient nitrite were significantly higher than the control fish. This study suggested that the eel acutely exposed to elevated ambient nitrite causes nitrite-induced stress responses, changes in antioxidative enzyme activities and hematological parameters.

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