ASSESSMENT OF LIVER FUNCTION MARKERS IN AMIETOPHRYNUS MACULATUS AND PTYCHADENA PUMILIO AS A BIOMONITORING TOOL OF HEAVY METALS POLLUTION IN SELECTED AREAS OF LAGOS STATE.

Abstract

The sensitivity of African amphibians Amietophrynus maculatus and Ptychadena pumiliowere exploited in determining oxidative stress induced by heavy metals pollution in selected areas of Lagos state.Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn) and Nickel (Ni) which is one of the factors that contribute to amphibian population decline.The mean levels of Total protein (TP), Aspartate Aminotransferases (AST) Alanine Aminotransferases (ALT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) induced in the liver of both sampled animalsin five selected locations in Lagos State (Ibafo, Iwaya, Makoko 1, Makoko 2 and Unilag) were assessed for their sensitivity to pollution as a biomomitoring tool in heavy metals polluted environment.Three healthy matured A.maculatus (79.00 ± 5.00g) and P. pumilio(62.00 ± 5.00g)were randomly collected from three points of eachselected locations.The resultsshowed thatthe highest mean values for TP, AST, ALT and ALP detected in the animals were 55.43 g/L, 71.67 U/L, 19.00U/L and 31.00 U/L respectively. AST detected in both animals sampled from all the selected locationswere the only consistent liver function markers.Additionally, Makoko 2 and Ibafolocations were the most polluted relative to the other selected sites as indicated in both amphibians sampled. Therefore, the role of these liver function test parameters in the sampled animals and their sensitivity could be a good battery of heavy metals pollution monitoring tools in assessing the environmental health as an early warning signalin environmental toxicology studies.