Sciknow Publications Ltd.
NE 2013, 1(2): 28-32 DOI: 10.12966/ne.08.02.2013
Natural Environment ©Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)
Biochemical Alterations Induced by Heavy Metal Mixture on the Levels of Vitamin E and Glycogen in the Liver of Freshwater Fish Obiakor, M.O1 and Ezeonyejiaku, C.D2 1 2
GreenPlanet Integrated Resources Lagos, Nigeria Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
*Corresponding author (Email:
[email protected])
Abstract - Following the toxicity and potential risk posed by the heavy metals to man and aquatic ecosystems, the study investigates the adverse changes exerted by sublethal concentrations of triple mixture of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, and Pb) on the glycogen and vitamin E reserves of tilapia species, Oreochromis niloticus over an exposure period of 1, 10, 20, and 40 days. The investigation consists of control group of fish maintained in normal water while the experimental group was exposed to 4.5mg/l triple mixture of Cd, Cr, and Pb solution at 1.5mg/l each of the metals for the period of exposure. Both groups were compared at the end of the experiment to measure deviations. Glycogen and vitamin E levels measured in the fish liver homogenates decreased (P
