Intoxication effects of lindane (γ-BHC) on the carbohydrate metabolism in the climbing perch, Anabas testudineus (Bloch)

The effects of an acute lethal (0.59 mg/liter) and a sublethal (0.075 mg/liter) concentration of lindane on the levels of glycogen (liver and muscle), glucose (blood), and lactic acid (liver, muscle, and blood) of a freshwater fish, Anabas testudineus (Bloch) were determined. A marked decrease in the liver glycogen and significant increase in blood glucose and muscle glycogen at 1 hr of exposure to 0.075 mg/liter lindane was noted. These results indicate extensive utilization of energy stores in the liver and simultaneous buildup of fuel reserves in the muscle. After 3 hr of exposure, glycogenesis possibly becomes operative in liver through the Cori cycle. The activity of the cycle was observed in the fish in all the subsequent periods of exposure studied. At 120 hr, the decreases observed in muscle and liver glycogen indicate near exhaustion of glycogen stores. Though changes in glycogen content of both muscle and liver were similar in 0.59 mg/liter lindane, they have less adaptive value since mortality of fish was significantly high at all three peroids studied.