Abstract

Background: Fishes are widely used as model organisms for the assessment of the quality of aquatic environment and can therefore serve as bioindicators of environmental pollution. In this study, the activities of Superoxide dismutase, Catalase , Glutathione S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration and Malondialdehyde formation were determined in the organs of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus from Asejire River in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The River receives effluents discharged from various industries and it is suspected to be polluted.
Materials and Methods: Clarias gariepinus weighing between 250g-400g were collected from Asejire River and Clarias gariepinus from a clean fish farm (Durantee fisheries) were used as the control.
Results: A significant increase in malondialdehyde formation was observed in the liver, kidney and gills of Clarias gariepinus from Asejire River compared with control. Superoxide dismutase, Catalase and GST activities decreased in the organs of the fish. There was also a decrease in GSH concentration in the liver and kidney of Clarias gariepinus from Asejire River compared with control but GSH concentration increased in the gills of the fish.
Conclusion: The results of this study show that there was induction of oxidative stress in the organs of Clarias gariepinus from Asejire River reflecting the pollution status of the River.

Key words: Asejire River, Oxidative stress, Environmental pollution, Clarias gariepinus, Effluent