Oil Injection of Heterobranchus bidorsalis Adults and its Effects on Aspartate Transaminase Activity

Abstract

The activity of aspartate transaminase enzyme in Heterobranchus bidorsalis adults (mean weight, 135.42 ±0.42g) when injected with different concentrations of Bony-light crude oil (BLCO) was studied within 4 days toxicity and 42 days recovery periods. Significant decreases in the values of aspartate transaminase enzyme concentrations (AST) (mg100ml^-1) were recorded in the fish liver supernatant as the BLCO concentrations increased from 10.00 to 50.00 µl.g^-1. Fish samples injected with 10.00 µl.g^-1 BLCO recorded highest values of AST than those injected with 20.00 – 50.00 µl.g^-1 BLCO. Increases in AST values during the recovery period at day 14 (25%), day 28(15%) and day 42 ( 5%) suggested some measure of relief on the liver tissues form oil toxicity and were a reflection of the tremendous effect of the oil injection on the activities of the aspartate transaminase enzymes within the liver. This result is consistent with the suggestions of other workers on the necessity for a comparative monitoring of biomarkers and pathological changes in the liver tissues in order to use good enzymatic markers as indicators of organ dysfunction. The AST values in this study: whether on decreases due to fish recovery from the toxic effect of oil, suggested that aspartate transaminase enzyme activity in H. bidorsalis adults was dose-dependent. Hence, this enzyme could be used as a biomarker in the fish to monitor pollution levels.