SHORT TERM EFFECTS OF ZINC ON SOME SERA BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND ON TISSUE ACCUMULATION OF Clarias gariepinus

Effects of zinc on sera aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities and glucose, total protein and cholesterol levels together with liver, gill, kidney, spleen and muscle accumulation of the metal were studied after exposing Clarias gariepinus to 1.0 and 5.0 ppm Zn over 24, 48 and 96 hours. Highest accumulation of Zn was in liver and spleen tissues in fish exposed to 1.0 ppm and 5.0 ppm Zn respectively after 96 hours of exposure. Sera AST and ALT activities, cholesterol, total protein and glucose levels changed depending on zinc concentration and exposure period. Sera glucose levels increased with increasing exposure periods at both concentrations of zinc. There was also an increase in sera cholesterol and total protein levels at the beginning of the experiment which decreased with increasing exposure. The increase in sera ALT and AST activities were higher in 5.0 ppm Zn compared with 1.0 ppm Zn depending on exposure period.