Expression of metallothionein in liver and kidney of freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio var. communis (Linn) exposed to arsenic trioxide

Abstract

In the present study, the toxic effects of arsenic trioxide (Ar2O3) to freshwater fish C. carpio were estimated at different median lethal concentration levels and its influences on the expression of metallothionein (MT) activity in liver and kidney were also observed. During this study, LC50 values were found to be 25.7, 27.4, 29.5, and 32 ppm for the period of 24, 48, 72, and 96 hrs respectively and LC16 and LC84 values of ArO3 also measured. The MT activity was estimated in liver and kidney of fish treated with different concentrations of ArO3 (5, 15, and 20 ppm) at different time intervals (48, 96, and 144 hrs) by using SDS-PAGE technique. From the results, 5 KD and 6 KD polypeptides were known to be metallothionein in liver and kidney respectively when the fishes were treated with different concentrations of arsenic arsenic trioxide. In the present investigation, ArO3 induced significant expression on metallothionein activity and it can be useful biomarker in environmental biomonitoring of arsenic contamination