pH-based Alteration of Electrical Conductivity and Total Protein
Profile of Muscle of Fish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) as an Indicator of
Aquatic Pollution
Abstract: Alteration of electrical conductivity and total protein profiles of
muscle of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) have been assessed as an indicator of
responses to change in pH of the aquatic medium. Fish were kept in different
aquaria containing tap water maintained at different pH levels (viz., 3.0, 4.0,
5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0 and 10.5) for 48 hrs and the muscle was exposed
to different electrical fields by subjecting them to 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25
volt/cm. Required pH was accomplished by adding conc. HCl (AR grade) and NaOH
(LR grade) in tap water. As protein is an organic semiconductor, the responses
of electrical conductivity, protein band profiles (number, molecular weight and
intensity of bands) and total protein content of muscle, if any, were analyzed
at different pH to evaluate the extent of damage/alteration caused by pH at
protein level. pH not only modulated the muscle conductivity at the lower and
higher levels, but also altered significantly in regard to both protein
profiles and total protein content, indicating possibility and relevance of
utilizing pH as a potent indicator of extent of damage inflicted on fish muscle
protein and thereby to a considerable extent the degree of aquatic pollution.
Keywords: pH, muscle conductivity, muscle protein, pollution, fish
