Chronic effects of heavy metals on the activity of some digestive and metabolic enzymes in Cyprinus carpio.

摘要

The study was carried out with commonly cultured healthy C. carpio exposed to two sublethal dose levels (0.025 and 0.05 ppm) of As. Hg, Ni and Cr individually and As in combination with Hg, Ni and Cr. Activity of all the digestive enzymes viz., protease, amylase and lipase was decreased in all the heavy metal treatments. The activity of alkaline phosphatase was enhanced in both the tissues viz. body muscles and intestine, while activity of acid phosphatase was enhanced in body muscle and reduced in intestine of fish. Toxic effects of different combinations of heavy metal were made severe than heavy metal alone. These studies clearly evidenced enzymatic activity measurements as direct index of metal toxicity in fishes.