pH-based Alteration of Electrical Conductivity and Total Protein Profile of Muscle of Fish,Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) as an Indicator of Aquatic Pollution

Abstract

Alteration of electrical conductivity and total protein profiles of muscle of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) have been assessed as an indicator of responses to change in pH of the aquatic medium. Fish were kept in different aquaria containing tap water maintained at different pH levels (viz., 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0 and 10.5) for 48 hrs and the muscle was exposed to different electrical fields by subjecting them to 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 volt/cm. Required pH was accomplished by adding conc. HCl (AR grade) and NaOH (LR grade) in tap water. As protein is an organic semiconductor, the responses of electrical conductivity, protein band profiles (number, molecular weight and intensity of bands) and total protein content of muscle, if any, were analyzed at different pH to evaluate the extent of damage/alteration caused by pH at protein level. pH not only modulated the muscle conductivity at the lower and higher levels, but also altered significantly in regard to both protein profiles and total protein content, indicating possibility and relevance of utilizing pH as a potent indicator of extent of damage inflicted on fish muscle protein and thereby to a considerable extent the degree of aquatic pollution.