Effect of short-term starvation stress on the age-related changes in hepatic SDH activity of the Indian murrel, Channa punctatus

Abstract

Judging from correlation analysis it is evident that the fed control male and female murrels of the oldest classes have significantly higher SDH (EC 1.3.99.1) activity than the youngest classes of respective sexes. This is true for starved groups also.Starvation for 3 days led to an increase in hepatic enzyme activity over fed controls in three oldest groups (3+-, 4+- and 5+-yr classes) of female. This trend of raised activity was maintained in the same groups even in 7 days of starvation.On the other hand, in the male fish, 3 days of starvation caused an increase in hepatic enzyme activity over that in fed control fishes of all year classes barring those of 0+-yr class. Seven days of starvation failed to produce a significant change in enzyme activity in almost all age classes except in the 5+-yr class where the activity still remained at a higher level over that of fed controls.