Activation of in vivo metabolism of malathion in male Tilapia nilotica.

Abstract

Adult T. nilotica were collected from River Nile, nearby Cairo, Egypt. Fishes weighing about 100-150 g were kept in glass aquaria (80 X 40 X 60 cm) containing river water. The general characteristics of river water are given in Table 1. The water samples were very low in heavy metals (concentration levels of Hg, Cd,Co, Cr and Pb were < 0.005 mg/L). The fish were fed twice daily a commercial diet (mixed protein and carbohydrate) and were kept at room temperature (25°C ± 2°C) for 48 hr before running the experiments. Male fishes were selected for this study to unify the specific xenobiotic enzymes liable to be involved in vivo degradation. either before or after injection with phenolbarbital.