Comparative evaluation of liver enzymes activities in Vimba bream and Common nase living under the same ecotoxicological conditions

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the differences in some enzymatic components of liver in vimba bream (Vimba vimba) and common nase (Chondrostoma nasus). For this purpose, 33 healthy vimba bream and 20 common nase were collected from commercial catches on the Danube River, near Belgrade (1172-1173 rkm), in 2016. The blood samples were taken and after separation of serum, the values of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes activities were measured. Based on obtained results, the values of AST and ALT enzymes activities were slightly lower in the common nase compared to vimba bream, which is a possible indicator of better health and physiological status, and greater resistance to environmental pollutants present in the habitat. This difference was, however, not statistically confirmed. Considering that the selected fish were captured by the same method, having a similar ecology, living in similar habitats and under similar ecotoxicological conditions, it is not surprising that the differences in the activity of the measured liver enzymes were minimal. Since common nase is important bioindicator species, similar results could indicate that vimba bream could be considered as replacement species for this types of research, if future studies indicate the decline or endangerment of common nase populations.