Impact of Severe Hypoxia on the Metabolic Alterations in the Fresh Water Catfish

The present work was aimed to study the effect of hypoxia on some biochemical parameters in muscle, liver and gills tissues; and effect of hypoxia of the air breathing catfish Clarias batrachus. The fishes were dissected and excised the required tissues, i.e. muscles, liver and gills and washed with distilled water, prepared a10 % homogenate mixture by grinding with tris buffer (.01 M), and preserved in deep freezer for further biochemical analysis. Pyruvate was estimated by 2, 4-dinitrophenilhydrazine adapted from Lu, protein by Lowery’s method, and RNA by Orcinol method Tillmans & Philippi. The supernatant contained the source of all experimental materials (Pyruvate, Protein, and RNA). Highest concentration of protein, pyruvate and RNA measured was found in liver compared to muscle and gills. In gill tissue the observed percentage changes showed decreased level of protein in 2 and 4 hrs. Liver tissue, when compared to normal, the percentage decreased. Similarly, there is a decrease in muscle tissue. RNA evaluation is observed that gill of 2 hrs hypoxia treated fish showed higher than the normal gill and in contrary 4 hrs hypoxia showed percent decreased count. In liver, 2 hrs hypoxia exhibited increase and 4 hrs hypoxia decreased. In muscle 2 hrs and 4 hrs, showed increased count. Pyruvate level of gill from fishes exposed to 2hrs and 4 hrs hypoxia showed increase when compared with normal gills