Response of Cyprinus carpio (Linn) to sublethal concentration of cypermethrin: alterations in protein metabolic profiles.

Freshwater fish, Cyprinus carpio were exposed to sublethal concentration (1.2 microg l(-1)) of cypermethrin for 6, 12, 24 and 48 h to analyze various parameters of protein metabolism in functionally different tissues. Total, structural and soluble proteins showed decrement; where as free amino acids and the activities of protease, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase significantly increased in cypermethrin exposed fish. Interestingly, ammonia content decreased but urea and glutamine increased at all periods of exposure. It was also observed that alterations steadily increased with the period of exposure and exhibited tissue specificity. Thus variation in the protein metabolism of the fish exposed to cypermethrin indicates its toxic effect on the cellular metabolism thereby leading to impaired protein synthetic machinery.