TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF LEATHER DYES ON SERUM CHOLESTEROL OF FRESH WATER TELEOST,CIRRHINUS MRIGALA (HAM.)

The fresh water Teleost, Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham. were treated with two leather dyes as in tabl es 1,2 and Fig.A,B) The serum cholesterol shows decreasing trend on exposure to Bismarck brown and Acid leather brown at different time intervals and at all three conce ntrations. However, the effect was more in Acid lea ther brown exposure. After Bismarck brown and acid leather brown exposure, the cholesterol decreased. It ma y be due to utilization of cholesterol in exposed fish a nd hindrance in metabolism. The serum cholesterol s howed a decrease with an increase in the exposure time is h ighly significant The cholesterol was estimated by the method of Zak et al. (1954).The cholesterol reacts with ferric ions in the acid solution of ferric chloride and sulphuric acid . This reaction involved the "3 hydroxy-5-ene" part of the cholesterol molecule, which is dehydrated to form c holesta-3, 5, diene and is then oxidized by the sul phuric acid to link two molecules as biocholestra-3, 5 die ne. This obtained substance is finally sulphonated by sulphuric acid in the presence of metal ions (Fe +3 ) and the red colored disulphuric acid having a hig h molecular extinction coefficient is formed The fresh water fishes were treated with two leathe r dyes as in (tables 1&2) the serum cholesterol shows decreasing trend on exposure to Bismarck brown and Acid leather brown at different time intervals (24 hrs, 48 hrs, 96 hrs and 1 week) and at all three concentrat ions. However, the effect was more in Acid leather brown exposure. After Bismarck brown and Acid leather brown exposure, the cholesterol decreased. It may be d ue to utilization of cholesterol in exposed fish and hind rance in metabolism.