Pyrethroid induced stress mechanism in freshwater fishes

The present thesis work tried to establish the biochemical mechanism of metabolic alterations in freshwater muddy fishes (Channa punctatus and Clarias batrachus in a comparative mode) in effect to the stress caused by pyrethroid insecticides (cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin). This work was planned as the pyrethroids have strong soil binding property and therefore, are generally present in high concentration in muddy region of the aquatic system. The fishes are very much likely to be affected by the high concentration of these pyrethroids. The work was planned to find out the stress inducing potential as well as mechanism of pyrethroids in fishes and to study the alterations in nitrogen metabolism. The pyrethroids were found to have significant stress inducing potential. The nitrogen metabolism was also observed to show marked alterations. The three alternative routes of ammonia detoxification were traced out in fishes. The present data should be especially useful to the fish toxicologists and fish specialists in understanding the stress mechanism of insecticides as well as their negative health impacts on the biochemistry and physiology of fishes.