Responses of acid/alkaline phosphatase, lysozyme, and catalase activities and lipid peroxidation to mercury exposure during the embryonic development of goldfish Carassius auratus.

Abstract This study assessed the impact of mercury exposure on goldfish ( Carassius auratus ) embryos based on the dynamic characteristics of chemical parameters. Day-old embryos were exposed to different Hg 2+ concentrations (0, 0.2, 1, 5, and 10 μg/L). Subsequently, the embryos were sampled every 24 h during embryonic development to measure acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), lysozyme (LSZ), and catalase (CAT) activities, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) content. The results revealed that the responses of ACP and AKP to mercury exposure presented in dose-dependent and time-dependent manners. The enzyme activities were significantly induced with increased concentrations and extended exposure (at 5 μg/L after 72 h and 10 μg/L after 48 h; p p 2+ concentrations, whereas LSZ significantly increased at higher concentrations and longer exposure (at 5 μg/L at 120 h and 10 μg/L after 72 h; p p p p p p p p p p p p p p C . auratus embryos.