Mintage Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Sciences (ISSN: 2320-3315)

Author(s): OGUNBIYI, OLUWAGBENGA JOHN

The biochemistry of Clarias gariepinus cultivated in benzene-contaminated water for a period of 8 weeks was studied. Methods: Twenty African catfish were divided into two groups of ten fish each and cultivated in water contaminated with 10µg/ml of benzene while the appropriate control does not contain this contaminant. Results: The results show that there was significant decrease (p<0.05) in the heart-body ratio of benzene-contaminated water (0.13±0.01) when compared to control (0.28±0.04). However, the body weight gain of the test fish was found to be significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of control. The serum cholesterol concentration was significantly decrease while that of triglyceride concentration was significantly elevated when compared to that of control (cholesterol for benzene= 25.38±0.18 mg/dl; cholesterol for control= 42.21±0.02 mg/dl and triglyceride for benzene= 37.74±0.24 mg/dl; triglyceride for control= 12.80±0.30 mg/dl). Conclusion: The findings suggest that there is likely to be imbalance in the lipid metabolism of the fish which if consumed by man will, perhaps, alter the proper functionality of some of their organ.