Arsenic and Urea in Combination Alters the Hematology, Biochemistry and Protoplasm in Exposed Rahu Fish Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822)
This study was conducted to assess hemato biochemical and different protoplasmic changes, which are indicators of genotoxicity in erythrocytes of Labeo rohita exposed to arsenic and urea. For this purpose, 20 fish were kept in glass aquaria for acclimatization (5 days) randomly divided into five equal groups: A (control) and exposed to arsenic (in mg/L) urea (in g/L) B (8+0.2) C (10+0.4) D (12+0.6) and E (15+0.8) respectively for 9 days. Blood samples with anticoagulant were collected at 3, 6 and 9 experiment days for hematology. Serum was separated from blood samples collected without anticoagulants for biochemical studies. Results showed that exposure with arsenic and urea in higher concentrations (groups D and E) significantly decreased (P<0.05) erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts, accompanied by significant increase in mean corpuscular volume and leucocyte counts than those in control group (A) Alanine and aspartate amino transaminase activities at 6 and 9 days in high dose (groups D and E) were significantly increased whereas glucose and total protein decreased (P<0.05) It is concluded that arsenic has hemato biochemical and genotoxic effects even at the low dose rate in the presence of nitrogenous chemicals in aquatic ecosystem.