Effects of Sub-lethal Concentrations of Atrazine on Some Oxidative Stress Biomarker in Various Tissues of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

In the present study, activity of catalase (CAT), total antioxidant (TA), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in gills, liver and kidney tissues were measured after the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) exposure to 3, 6 and 15 mg/L atrazine for 10, 20 and 30 days. A significant increase in TA levels was observed in kidney of fish exposed to atrazine during experimental periods. TA in liver of fish exposed to 15 mg/L atrazine were significantly higher than control group on day 20 and 30. However, CAT activity (on day 10 and 20) and GSH levels (on day 30) increased in liver and kidney of fish exposed to 15 mg/L atrazine, no significant changes were observed in CAT activity and GSH levels in gills of fish. Although there were no significant changes in MDA levels in liver and kidney during experimental periods, MDA levels significantly increased in gills of fish exposed to 15 mg/L atrazine on day 30. Increased antioxidant capacity and decreased oxidative stress risk in grass carp after exposure to atrazine may be related to the fish diet. Our results show that fish fed with alfalfa may increase the efficiency of the antioxidant defense system against oxidative stress.