Effects of nonylphenol-induced oxidative stress in ovary of cichlid fish, Etroplus maculatus (Bloch, 1795)

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of nonylphenol in the pro-oxidant/ antioxidant system in ovary of the cichlid fish Etroplus maculatus. Fishes were exposed at two sublethal concentrations (one-fifth and one-tenth of LC50) of nonylphenol for 24, 72 and 96 h maintaining control groups. The oxidative stress indices as the activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase along with the levels of hydrogen peroxide generation and lipid peroxidation were monitored in concentration- and time-dependent manner. Activity of superoxide dismutase significantly (P<0.05) increased at both concentrations in timedependent manner. Meanwhile the activities of catalase and glutathione reductase significantly (P<0.05) decreased after 72 and 96 h of nonylphenol treatment. The levels of hydrogen peroxide generation and lipid peroxidation increased in all treatment groups when compared to controls. The present results demonstrated that the induction of oxidative stress in ovary of fish by the generation of lipid peroxidation could be due to the exposure of environmental contaminant, nonylphenol. Therefore, the observed oxidative stress in ovary can be indicated as a mechanism of toxicity in the fish exposed to nonylphenol.