G. JAGADEESAN AND A. JEBANESAN
Abstract
The rate of oxygen consumption and opercular movements of H. molitri_x fingerlings increased with increased time of exposure from 24 to 96 hrs. to mercury at Median lethal level (18.3 x 10 ppm). Total carbohydrates and SDH activity also decreased in muscle, gill and liver tissues under mercury impact. And enhanced level of LDH activity was also observed in the respective tissues. These results are discussed in relation to shift in the respiratory metabolism from aerobiosis to anaerobiosis and also utilization of organic reserves in yielding excess energy to face the mercury toxic stress.