Effect of phenolic compounds on in vivo activity of transaminases in certain tissues of the fish, Notopterus notopterus

Abstract

Chronic effects of phenol (P), 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), and pentachlorophenol (PCP) individually and in three combinations, viz. (PCP + DNP) P (highly antagonistic), (DNP + P) PCP (additive), and P + DNP) PCP (highly synergistic) on in vivo activity of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in brain, liver, kidney, and gills of Notopterus notopterus were studied at subacute levels ( 1 10 , 1 15 , and 1 20 of 96-hr LC 50) following exposure for 15 and 30 days. Significant stimulation in activity of GOT and GPT was observed in all the tissues at different concentrations of phenolic compounds after both the time intervals. However, stimulation in activity of both GOT and GPT was maximum (140.67% in GOT, 142.68% in GPT) in liver at 1 10 concentration of the (P + DNP) PCP combination after 30 days, but minimum in gills, in case of GOT (17.29%) at 1 20 of P after 15 days and in case of GPT (7.68%) at 1 20 of the (PCP + DNP) P combination after 30 days. Stimulatory effect of phenolic compounds on the activity of these enzymes indicates possibly the increased conversion of amino acids into keto acids and vice versa, thus resulting in the disturbance of protein metabolism.