IN-VIVO EFFECTS OF DELTAMETHRIN ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF CARP (CYPRINUS-CARPIO L)

The in vivo effects of deltamethrin (DM) on the blood sugar level, the acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) activities of the blood serum and various organs (heart, liver and intestine), the lactate dehydrog enase (LDH, EC 1.1.2.3), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT, EC 2. 6.1.1), and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT, EC 2.6.1.2) activities of the blood serum, the adenosine triphosphatases (EC 3.6.1.3; Na+/K-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase) activities of the erythrocyte plasma membrane and the catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) activity of the liver were examined th roughout 96 h in adult carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) Two sublethal concent rations, 1.0 and 1.5 mu g/l of deltamethrin, were used. All fish survi ved the experiment except one, in an aquarium containing 1.5 ppb of DM , which died after 72 h. The AChE specific activity was significantly inhibited in the heart and intestine after 96 h at both concentrations compared to that in the control animals (P < 0.05, Student's t-test), while there was no detectable difference between the two treatment. A t the same time there was no detectable change in the liver. In the se rum, the AChE activity almost remained unchanged; the only significant decrease could be measured after 96 h at 1.5 mu g/l deltamethrin conc entration. The blood glucose content exhibited interesting changes: af ter 24 h fish exposed at 1 mu g/l DM seemed to be stressed, although t his increase was not significant. When these fish became used to the n ew conditions (in practice this meant the presence of DM), the glucose level decreased, especially after 72 h. At the same time the control animals kept in similar circumstances showed a small insignificant dec rease. Meanwhile fish in aquaria containing 1.5 mu g/l DM reacted to t he treatment with an increased blood glucose level after 48 h, and thi s did not change until the end of the treatment. The Na+/K+-ATPase act ivity decreased in a dose-dependant manner, while Mg2+-ATPase was less affected. A small increase in LDH level was observed, indicating dama ge of different muscle tissues. However, this phenomenon appeared only with the small dosage after 24 h (P < 0.05). It has to be mentioned t hat the individual values varied to a large extent among of the eight fish. The GOT activities of the serum increased during the treatment. However, significant changes were only expressed after 72 and 96 h at 1 mu g/l DM concentrations (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05), and after a simila r long treatment at the high dosage (P < 0.05, 72 and 96 h). The GPT d id not change significantly in aquaria containing 1 mu g/l DM. The onl y larger increase was measured after 96 h at 1.5 mu g/l DM concentrati on (P < 0.05). The catalase activity in the liver of treated carp rema ined practically at the same level compared to that in control fish. A ll these changes (concerning the primary effects of this compound) dem onstrate the effect of DM on different fish enzymes, at low concentrat ions under laboratory conditions, which might be useful in practice fo r biomonitoring using fish.