Biological effects and liver biomarkers of PCB contamination on freshwater fish Carassius auratus

Fresh fish Carassius auratus were chosen as experimental animals to study the potential of biological effects after fish were injected with different dose (0.001, 0.006, 0.03, 0.16, 0.78 mg/kg) of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). The hepatic biochemical responses to medium-term exposure of PCB were measured as reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) to assess sub-lethal effects. Clear dose-response relationships were found for liver GSH and MDA content of all concentrations. In most case, time dependence was apparent at higher concentration of 0.03 mg/kg. GSH and MDA in Carassius auratus were confirmed as useful biomarkers of exposure to PCB.