Effect of aldrin on carbohydrate metabolism in Indian catfish.

Exposure of the Indian catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) to a sublethal concentration of 0.14 p.p.m. aldrin for 3, 6, 12, 48, and 96 hrs affected carbohydrate metabolism. Muscle glycogenolysis and glycogenesis were obtained at 3 and 12 hrs, respectively. Hepatic glycogenolysis occurred at 3, 48, and 96 hrs. The treatment caused hyperglycaemia at 3, 6, 48, and 96 hrs, and hypoglycaemia at 12 hrs. Blood pyruvate values increased significantly at 3, 6, and 96 hrs. Hyperlacticaemia was observed at 3 and 12 hrs but hypolacticaemia developed at 96 hrs. The results are discussed in relation to acute stress syndrome. Also, impairment of carbohydrate metabolism by aldrin may be involved in the biochemical mechanism for its toxic action. It is concluded that evaluation of carbohydrate metabolites in fish could prove useful as a rapid method for assessing acute toxicity of pesticides.