This document reports on an investigation into the toxic effects of lead nitrate on fingerlings of the fish Cyprinus Carpio. The study aimed to determine the lethal concentration (LC50) of lead nitrate over 96 hours, observe behavioral changes in the fish, and examine the impact on biochemical aspects and histology of organs like gills, muscle and liver. Testing found an LC50 of 3.7g/L lead nitrate. Biochemical analysis revealed increased glucose and decreased glycogen and protein in exposed fish tissues relative to controls. Histological analysis showed desquamation of gill epithelial lining and muscle bundle degeneration in exposed fish. The study concludes that lead nitrate is toxic to C. Carpio and

1. INVESTIGATION ON THE TOXIC
EFFECTS OF LEAD NITRATE ON THE
FINGERLINGS OF Cyprinus Carpio
BY
Mr. KARTHIK.H.P
(PS183256)
Guide:
Dr. B.S Ramesh M.Sc., Ph.D
Head of the Department
P.G Department of Zoology

2. INTRODUCTION
 Industrial effluents contain suspended solids, pesticides, organic, inorganic and
various metal compounds which are major source of water pollution
 Discharge of heavy metals into river or any aquatic environment can change
both aquatic species diversity and ecosystem due to their toxicity and
accumulative behaviour
 The consequence of heavy metals pollution can be hazardous to man through
his food.
 The massive disposal of quantities of metal waste at land fills can lead to metal
pollution of ground and surface water
 Massive increases of humans population as leads to an exponential in
technology and industrial advantages all around world.
Conti……

3.  Fishes have been used in indicator for contamination of aquatic environment
for several years.
 Fishes act as the last link in the food chain in the aquatic environment they
may negatively influence the food safety when they get exposed to
contamination environment.
 Early detection of sub lethal effects of a chemical may be a basic element is
decoding about biodegradation and revitalization method at polluted site
 Fish live in a wide range of habitats are being altered by anthropogenic
influences.

4. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES
 To evaluate the toxicity (LC50 ) of lead nitrate on fingerlings of
Common carp (Cyprinus carpio).
 To record the impact of lead nitrate on the behavioural changes of
Common carp (Cyprinus carpio).
 To determine the effect of lead nitrate on biochemical aspects in
specific organ tissue (i.e., gills, muscle and liver) of Common carp
(Cyprinus carpio).
 To assess the possible adverse effect of lead nitrate on the histology of
some organs (i.e., gills and muscle) in Common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

6. TEST ANIMALS :
 In present toxicological study the fingerlings of Common carp (Cyprinus
carpio) fish were selected as an experimental animal
Fingerlings (8± 1cms, 25± 1grams) of Cyprinus carp were collected from
the fisheries department, Bhadra reservoir project, Sivamogga,
Karnataka.
Plate 1 : Cyprinus carp

7. TOXICANT
Plate 2: Lead Nitrate

8. METHOD
 Bioassay Protocol:
 LC50-96h Determination
 Study of Behavioural Response
 Biochemical Analysis
 Estimation of Glucose by Anthrone method
 Estimation of Glycogen by Kemp's method
 Estimation Of Protein by Lowery's method
 Histology Analysis

10. Metal Exposure period in
Hours
Method LC50 Value
Lead nitrate 96 Graphical 3.7g/ L
LC50 value for lead nitrate metal exposure to fingerlings of Cyprinus carpio
Dose response showing mortality against lead nitrate concentration (g/L) for
fingerlings of cyprinus carpio
Toxicity Studies

11. BEHAVIOURAL STUDIES
Characteristics Concentration in Grams
2 2.5 3 3.5 3.7
Swimming ++ ++ + + +
Colour - + ++ ++ +++
Intermittent swarming - + + + ++
Jerky movement - + + + ++
Opercular movement ++ + + + -
Surfacing and air
gulping
+ + ++ ++ +++
(-) = Absent (++) = Moderate
(+) = Low (+++) = High Characteristics
Behavioural characteristics of Cyprinus carpio exposed to
lead Nitrate

12. GLUCOSE
The variation of glucose content in control and exposed
fish, trials represented in Glucose content (mg/g) in the gills and
muscle tissue was estimated after exposing the fingerlings for
96hrs (LC50 value of lead nitrate 3.7g/L ). In that the exposed
muscle found to have (0.168mg/g) and gills (0.107mg/g),
showed increased in glucose level as contrast to the controlled
fingerling muscle (0.135mg/g) and gills (0.085mg/g).

13. BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN FISH
Sl. No Tissue Sample Result
Control(mg/g) Exposed(mg/g)
1 Muscle 0.135 0.168
2 Gills 0.085 0.107
Glucose content in tissue of fingerlings Cyprinus carpio exposed to lethal
concentration (96hrs) of lead nitrate
Glucose content in the tissue of the cyprinus carpio fingerlings

14. GLYCOGEN
 Glycogen content (mg/g) in the gills and muscle tissue
was estimated after exposing the fingerlings for 96 hrs
(LC50 value of lead nitrate 3.7g/L) was represented in. In
that the exposed muscle (0.29mg/g) and gills (0.34mg/g),
showed decrease in glycogen level as compared to the
controlled fingerling muscle (0.36mg/g) and gills
(0.42mg/g).

15.  Glycogen content in the tissue of Cyprinus carpio fingerling
exposed to lethal concentration (96h) of lead nitrate
Sl. No Tissue Sample Result
Control(mg/g) Exposed(mg/g)
1 Muscle 0.36 0.29
2 Gills 0.42 0.34
Glycogen content in the Tissue of the cyprinus carpio fingerlings

16. PROTEIN
 The variation of protein content in fish control and exposed trails
represented in Protein content (mg/g) in the muscle and gills tissue
was estimated after exposing the fingerlings for 96hrs (LC50 value of
lead nitrate 3.7g/l). In exposed fishes, muscle (4.1mg/g) and gills
(5.2mg/gm), showed decrease in protein level as contrast to the
controlled fingerling muscle (5.5mg/g) and gills (6.2mg/g).

17.  Protein content in the tissue of Cyprinus carpio fingerlings exposed to
lethal concentration (96hrs) of lead nitrate
Sl. No Tissue Sample Result
Control(mg/g) Exposed(mg/g)
1 Muscle 5.5 4.1
2 Gills 6.2 5.2
Protein content in the tissue of the cyprinus carpio fingerlings

18. HISTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
Plate.4 : Gills of Cyprinus carpio in
control shows no changes (control)
Plate.5 : Gills of Cyprinus carpio exposed
shows desquamation of epithelial lining
Gills

19. Plate.6 : Muscle of Cyprinus carpio
showed no changes (Control)
Plate.7 : Muscle of Cyprinus carpio exposed
shows Muscle bundle degeneration
Muscle

20. CONCLUSION
 Overall, the study has shown that the lead nitrate metal is toxic to Cyprinus
carpio.
 Fishes exposed to acute lethal concentrations of the metal resulted in
significant behavioural, biochemical and histopathological alterations.
 These changes suggest that the treated fish are faced with serious metabolic
crisis.
 The random destruction and structural alterations in gills, liver and muscle
in the exposed fishes are indicative of stress mediated production.
 The results clearly indicate that the addition of metal to the water body may
be threat to aquatic flora and fauna

21. Thank You