Sub-lethal toxic effect of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) on freshwater murrel Channa punctata (BLOCH)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to look into the effects of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) on freshwater murrel Channa punctata (Bloch). The impacts in fishes include changes in morphological behaviour i.e., changes in opercular activity, hypoxic condition and colour changes in gills, profuse mucus secretion, alteration of protein levels in gill and liver tissues when exposed to sub-lethal doses of CdCl2 (at 5 ppm and 10 ppm) after the estimation of protein content of these tissues. When exposed to 5 ppm dose, the protein level in gill was found to be 70.3±0.25 mg protein/gram of tissue and at 10 ppm it was 65.3±0.30 mg protein/gram of tissue. Similarly the protein content of liver tissue at 5 ppm and 10 ppm doses was found to be 79.3±0.20 and 71.3±0.25 mg protein/gram of tissue respectively. These values showed deviation from the Control which were at 82.5±0.20 89.7±0.15 mg protein/gram of tissue respectively for the gill and liver tissues.