Antioxidants Activities in The Plasma of Clarias Gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Atrazine

Atrazine is a pre-emergence herbicide that is widely used in Nigeria to control weeds.Given that herbicides could harm non-target species like fish, this study examined the effects of atrazine on antioxidant activities which includes Catalase (CAT), Lipid peroxidation (LPO), Glutathione (GSH), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Glutathione -S -Transferase (GST), in the plasma of Clarias gariepinus.Juveniles of C. gariepinus of mean length (11.742.64cm)and mean weight (256.681.81g)were exposed to different concentrations of atrazine containing 0.00 (control), 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20mg/l of atrazine for a period of 96 Hours.Results obtained in the study indicated that atrazine caused significant increase (p<0.05) in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, CAT and LPO in all experimental groups compared with control exposures.There was also a significant decrease in the values of GSH, SOD and GST in all experimental groups compared with control exposure.The study therefore revealed that atrazine exposure had a toxic effect on C. gariepinus in a dose-dependent manner, hence caution should be applied in its application, and the usage must be monitored and controlled especially when in use close to any aquatic ecosystem.