The Effect of Chromium on Glucose Content of Freshwater Fish, Heteropneustes fossilis

摘要

Heavy metal contamination have devastating effects on the ecological balance of the recipient environment and on diversity of aquatic organisms. Heavy metal like Chromium as an environmental stress or may alter the glucose content in fishes. Alternation of blood glucose level is the primary metabolic symptoms that can be noticed in organisms subjected to stressful situations. In the present investigation the effect of a heavy metal Potassium Di-Chromate on the blood glucose level of freshwater major freshwater fish, Heteropneustes fossilis have been studied at different concentration for three days. A group of ten fish were subjected to serial dilutions of the stock solution of k2Cr2O7 ranging from 20 ppm to 600 ppm in twelve large plastic bowls of 25 liter capacity by the semi-static (renewal) method. At the end of the exposure period, blood samples were taken from the control and experimental fish. Blood glucose level was monitored. The study showed that the values of blood glucose have a positive correlation with concentrations of this metal. The glucose levels were found higher in the exposed fish when compared to the control. In conclusion, the changes observed indicate that glucose level can be used as an indicator of chromium related stress in fish.