Impact of temperature variation on haematology and serum enzymes of Schizothorax richardsonii (Gray)

Abstract

A sudden change in the ambient temperature alter the behaviour, haematology
and serum enzyme activities of the fish, Schizothorax richardsonii. An abrupt
change in temperature to lower limits of 5° and 10°C resulted in significant
(p<0.05) decrease of red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell
volume (PCV) as compared to control group (20°C). No marked variation in the
absolute values of mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular
haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were
recorded. Likewise, exposure of test fishes to high temperature of 30°C caused
considerable reduction in these haematological values (RBC and PCV). On the
other hand, no significant change in the activities of serum enzymes viz. glutamic
pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were recorded
in fishes exposed to different temperatures, whereas, lactate dehydrogenase
(LDH) and glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) exhibited remarkably
(p<0.05) elevated levels at 5°C. Significant decline in the values of acid phosphatase
(ACP) were, however, noticed in fishes subjected to lower temperatures.
Serum protein concentration also fell significantly at 5° and 10°C as compared
to the control group of fish (20°C).