Zinc induced Oxidative stress and hepatoarchietectural changes in fresh water fish Channa punctatus

Numerous biological functions in living creatures involve the significance of Zinc due to its participation in various metabolic activities. It is advantageous when present in traces but becomes noxious when exists in copious amounts. The present study was conducted to assess the deleterious effects of Zinc on fish Channa punctatus exposed to the maximum permissible limit (5 mg/l) and two-fold of the maximum permissible limit (10 mg/l) for 15, 30 and 45 days. ROS levels were significantly (p<0.05) elevated in a dosage- and duration-dependent manner. Increased ROS resulted in the raised oxidative stress that was specified by the unusual activities of anti-oxidant biomarkers. The activities of enzymatic biomarkers (SOD, CAT and GR) were significantly (p<0.05) increased while the activity of non-enzymatic biomarker (GSH) was significantly (p<0.05) reduced in treated fish. Zinc intoxication also resulted in severe damage to the histology of the liver. For the reason that information about Zinc toxicity on and above the maximum permissible limit in the Rohilkhand region was not available, the present study was outlined to fill up the prevailing research gap.