Hin, J. Env, Zool. Vol. 4, 1990 pp. 92-95 EFFECT OF STARVATION ON SERUM CHOLESTEROL LEVELS OF FRESHWATER CATFISH CLARIAS BATRACHUS (Recrived May 20, 1990; Acvepted August 20, 1990) Sudhish Chandra Department of Zoology, B.S.N.V. College, Lucknow-226 008, India ‘The paper describes changes in serum cholesterol contents of a freshwater fish teleost C. batractus following five montho of experimental starvation under laboratory conditions. Cholectoral is an important sternid persent in living system and plays vital role in body metabolism. Starvation Is one of the adverse situations which fish have to face during somo part of the yoar. Starvation causes marked changes in various evergy yielding and other metabolic processes of body which are closely reflected by the blood! Effect of starvation on different blood constituents have bean studied in different fishes 2-* "17, Present paper embodies the results obtained on serum cholesterol levels of freshwater catfish Clarias batrachus, following five months experi- mental starvation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Method af collection, transport, maintenance of fishes a . ce ind experiment - dures were the same as described earlier", Method of Zlatkis er al.18 at, — for the estimation of serum cholesterol lovel using Bausch and Lomb spectronie.» colorimeter at 549 #m, Only healthy fishes in the weight range of 270300 actos selected for the experiments grams were RESULTS « Results obtained on serum cholesterol levels of conte experiment have been presented in Table-1 from a continuous and regular loss in cf oland starved fish during Influence of starvation were evident serum cholesterol levels of C. bairachus, TheSerum Cholesterol in Starved Fish Lee 490.004.4246 mg/100 ml after first_month of starvation, revealing a Toned tee the initial level (Table-1). After 2nd month of starvation the teal fell forthor by 2452% In the next following months of starvation the rate of loss in sorum cholester3! level was higher reaching to 47.14% and 60.37%, reopoctively, after ard and 4th month. The total loss was 64.157; after Sth month of starvation, as compared to the value Of control_ group when the experi- ment was concluded. Statistically, values ubtained after 2nd, 3rd, 4th and Sth month of starvation were significant (P < 0.01) as compared to control. DISCUSSION Fish are in general well adapted to withstand long periods of starvation and can mobllize their body constituents as fuel for survival under adverse conditions. It has been seen that survivality under starvation differs from fish to fish 17744618, Metabolic cycles involve complex sequances of reat is therefore logical to expect that if in the first event the arrival ot metabolites in the blood stream from yut is stoppedisome reaction sequences will be altered and arrested simultaneously. In C. batrachus the impact of starvation was lesser after first month,shuwiny a loss of 7.547only,but tho rato of love were areater In serum cholesterol levels in next following months. Similar trends in serum cholesterol level have been observed in Channa striaus also’, These observations revealed that the starvation period and serum cholesterol levels wore inversely pro- portional, It has generally been seen that starvation causes depletion in various blood constituents of fish and prolonged starvation may oven caueo death?.819, C. batrachus being an active and hardy fish, felt the impact of starvation considerably and sooner. Variable trends in loaces of different blood parameters hava haen nated in different fishes following starvation". Consumption of lipids prior to glycogen in hepa~ topanereas was found in carps? and 0. gmhucchal® during @ period af rastricted food ‘supply with moderate starvation and the body weight is tried to be maintained through uptake of water. During the experiment, fish appeared to be gradually growing weak and sluggish, indicating a reduced metabolic activity. A regular decroaso in total serum proteins!, blood urea‘, acid phosphatase’, alkaline phosphatase" levels in C. batvachus further supports the prasent observations. A perusal of rasults obtained here clearly indicated that at first instance of starvation fish tried to offset the energy requirements by meta~ bolising its carbohydrate reserves, which in turn also deplete.as the period of starvation) Chandra ‘Table 1—Effect of starvation of serum cholesterol contents of (, batracius, ea and No. of Cholesterol (mg/400ml.) io observa- Mean +: S.D, & Range tions Control 20 530,00-90 28, (480 00 ~600.00) Post starvation 1 month 4 490.00 42.16 (450,00—540.00) 2 months 4 400.00-:65.31 (620.00—480.00) 3 months 4 280.00::67.32 (200.00—360.00) 4 months 4 210.00-+33.66 (170.00—250.00) 5 months 4 190.00:36.42 (150.00 230.00) prolongs®. But due to prolonged starvation lipids are also utilized. Later on with the gradual exhaustion of reserve food, metabolic activities also retard and result ina continuous and gradual loss of serum cholesterol level. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS + The author is grateful toDr.R.S. Tandon, Retd. Prof, and Ex. Head of the Zoology Deptt., Kumaon University, Nainital for guidance and suggestions. REFERENCES : 1— Boetius, I. and Boetius, J, (1967) : Medér. Damm, Fisk, og Havunders, # : 339. 2— Chandra, S. (1980). Kan, Univ. Res. J, (Se,), 1+ 23,Serum Cholesterol in Starved Fich Los (1082) Reperientia, 38 : 827. (1907). Him, J. Fav. Zool, 1+ 76. ‘Ac (1965). Cur. Seanc, Soe. Biol. 150: 30 : 372. a— Chandra S+ 4 = Chandra, 3. 5—Creach. Y. and Serfaty, 6 —Joshi, B.D. 1974). Experientia, 7— Love, RM, (1958). J- Sei. Ja, Agri. 9 + RM, (1970). “The Chemical bilogy of ste, Acad Proce N y. Soc, Sti, Fish, 31 + 404. (isk, Res, Ba, Can, 23; 1353. 483. 195. 8— Love, 9— Nagai, M.and Ikeda, 5: (1971). Bull. Jap. 40— Parker, RR. and Vanstone W-E, (1966). 9- 14_ Schmitt, A., Siohert, G. and Bottke, L (1986). Arch. Jk. Wis, 17: 60+ 42— Shell, EW. (1961). Res. Rep. US. Fish Wildl, 572 '- 13— Siebert, G., Schmitt, A. and Bottke, 1. (1964). Arch. Jk. Wis, 15 + 223. 14— Smallwood, W.M. (1986). Biol. Ball, Mar. Bist Leb. Woodshale, B13 453+ 45— Tandon, R. 8. and Chandra, S. (1979). % Tierphysiol, Tierernah. U, Juttermitelhde, 41:10, 16— Tandon, RS. and Chandra, S. (1984). J. Adv. ovls 5: 16+ 17 Tandon, RS. and Masih, B.P. (1989). J. dv, Zoo's + 125. 18 Wilkins, N.P. (1967). Je Cons, Perm, int, Explor, Mer. BL: 77. 19 — Zlathis, A., Zak, B. and Boyle, Awd. (1959). J. Leb- Clin, Med., 41: 486: