Oxidative stress biomarkers in assessing arsenic tri oxide toxicity in the Zebrafish, Danio rerio

Abstract

Heavy metals and their salts are considered as very important group of environmental pollutant which in small quantities may be essential nutrients that protect our health, yet in larger quantity it being toxic and dangerous to all living organisms including aquatic organisms. One of the major mechanisms behind heavy metal toxicity has been attributed to oxidative stress. Heavy metals are important inducers of oxidative stress in aquatic animals, promoting formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are an unenviable part of aerobic life. During the present study, arsenic effect was studied at two doses (0.006 mg/l and 0.03 mg/l) for 7, 14 21 and 28 days in liver and ovary of Zebrafish Danio rerio. This study included the antioxidant profile namely catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reduced glutathione (GSH). A notable decrease was observed in the activities of catalase and reduced glutathione in the levels of other metabolite together with a significant increase in lipid peroxidation after arsenic exposure.