Pesticide-Induced Alterations of Esterase and Antioxidant Enzymes of Aquatic Organisms <i>Oreochromis mossambicus</i> and <i>Xenopus laevis</i>

Abstract

Pesticides are extensively utilized in modern farming to control pests and weeds, thereby ensuring high quality and quantity of crops. Aerial drifts and runoffs after rain transport these agrochemicals to aquatic bodies, where they adversely affect aquatic organisms. We carried out a study to assess the effects of carbaryl and dimethoate on esterase and antioxidant enzyme activities of tadpoles, adult frogs and juvenile fish. These organisms were exposed to sublethal contraptions of 2.9 ppm carbaryl and 4.8 ppm dimethoate for 96 hours. After the exposure period, the fish and frogs were sacrificed and post-mitochondrial fractions were prepared for enzymatic analysis. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), carboxylesterase (CbE), superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were measured. Carbaryl and dimethoate inhibited the activities of acetylcholinesterase, carboxylesterase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in juvenile fish, tadpoles and adult frogs. Inhibition of SOD, CAT and GPx suggests that the two pesticides caused oxidative stress in the aquatic organisms, while inhibition of AChE and CbE affected the normal transmission of nerve impulses. The results indicate that the two pesticides affect the well-being of the studied aquatic organisms.