Arsenic Compound Induced Alteration in Protein Metabolism and Chelating Effect of Zeolite in Heteropneustes fossilis

The toxic effect caused by arsenic to humans and other organisms due to their occurrence in ground water and surface water is a serious health issue worldwide and many millions of people drink water containing unacceptably high arsenic levels. Industrial processes, mining, pesticides, fertilizers, paints and medicines can cause arsenic contamination. In the present work the effect of different concentrations of sodium arsenite in the liver of Heteropneustes fossilis, in terms of biochemical and histopathological aspects, and the chelating effect of zeolite was studied. Fishes were exposed to two different concentrations of sodium arsenite alone, and also two different concentrations of sodium arsenite along with zeolite for 3 different durations (3days, 7days and 15 days). Concentration of total protein, albumin and globulin from liver was estimated. A Significant decrease in total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations on exposure to sodium arsenite and recovery of the conditions, when the fishes were treated with zeolite along with sodium arsenite, was observed. The results of the histopathological study showed significant alterations in liver and zeolite treated arsenic did not cause any significant histopathological alterations in liver cells.