Environmentally relevant concentration of copper elated hematological impairment, branchiotoxicity, myotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and antioxidants imbalance in fish Channa punctatus

Abstract

Copper is a mineral that organisms need to stay healthy on one hand and on the other hand prolonged overexposure may result into various dangerous implications. The present study was outlined to assess various deleterious effects being caused to the edible fish C. punctatus exposed to an environmentally relevant concentration of copper (ERCC). For this purpose, well-acclimatized fish were classified into four groups. Group I was maintained as control while groups II, III, and IV were exposed to the ERCC (0.85 mg/L), 10% increase in ERCC (0.935 mg/L) and 20% increase in ERCC (1.02 mg/L), respectively, for 15, 30, 45 and 60d. A significant (p <0.05) reduction in Hb% and RBC count while escalation in WBC counts was documented after all exposure periods and the maximum change was recorded after the longest exposure period of 60 days, respectively. Enzymatic antioxidants viz., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were significantly (p <0.05) raised and non-enzymatic antioxidant, i.e., glutathione (GSH) activity was reduced in all exposed groups in a dose-dependent manner. Severe histopathological modifications were observed in the treated fish’s gills, muscles, and kidneys. The outcomes of the present investigation substantiate that ERCC induces toxicity in fish at various levels and warn about the possible repercussions of increased ERCC in the near future as the concentration of copper continuously rises with the ever-increasing pollution.