Effect of cadmium on aminotransferases serum activity in European carp

Abstract

In many densely populated areas of the Earth, there is an excess amount of heavy metals in soil, air and water, a significant part of which comes from industrial pollution. So it is important to evaluate possible effects of heavy metals in biological models.Aim of this study is to asset toxic influence of heavy metals in fish. This research was intended to analyze aminotransferases (ALT, AST) serum activity under the influence of various cadmium concentrations in European carp. Intracellular enzymes activity level elevation in serum is a sign of mass cell destruction and consequently is a sign of pathological process. In this experiment 3 groups of fish (European carp) were formed, 10 fish in each group: control group; 1‐experimental group – fish were contained in water with 0.05 mg/l cadmium acetate concentration (10 times higher than fishery waters permissible exposure limit according to the laws of the Russian Federation); 2‐experimental group – fish were contained in water with 0.5 mg/l cadmium acetate concentration (100 times higher than fishery waters permissible exposure limit according to the laws of the Russian Federation). Exposure time was 4 hours. The blood samplings were taken from heart by syringe and placed in dry test tubes. After samplings centrifugation in non‐hemolysed serum samples ALT and AST activities were assessed. Results presented as mean±standard error of the mean. Student's t‐test was used after proving normal distribution. Level of significance is labeled as p<0.05.The study revealed that there were meaningful elevation of ALT and AST serum activity (p≤0.05) by 44.22% (30,92±1,42 IU/l) and 15.36% (261,5±8,07 IU/l) accordingly in 1‐experimental group in compare with control group (21.44±0.72 IU/l и 226.68±4.35 IU/l). In case where the cadmium acetate concentration were 100 times higher than fishery waters permissible exposure limit were meaningful elevation of ALT and AST serum activity (p≤0.01) by 88.82% (38,34±0,19 IU/l) and 71.53% (388,82±14,57IU/l) accordingly in 2‐experimental group in compare with control group.After analyzing the received data there were established meaningful aminotransferases serum activity elevation under the influence of various cadmium concentrations in European carp. This may be due to the activation of gluconeogenesis, which is necessary to maintain an adequate glucose level in conditions of intoxication, which determines the direction of metabolic flows towards the predominance of catabolic reactions. This data is important to be taken into consideration not only during assessing physiological condition in fish, but also to increase understanding of the damage extent in biological models.