Improper control on reactive oxygen species (ROS) elimination process and formation of free radicals causes tissue dysfunction. Pineal hormone melatonin is considered a potent regulator of such oxidative damage in different vertebrates. Aim of the current communication is to evaluate the levels of oxidative stress and ROS induced damage, and amelioration of oxidative status through melatonin induced activation of signaling pathways. Hepatocytes were isolated from adult Labeo rohita and exposed to H2O2 at three different doses (12.5, 25 and 50 µM) to observe peroxide induced damage in fish hepatocytes. Melatonin (25, 50 and 100 μg/ml) was administered against the highest dose of H2O2. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) was measured spectrophotometrically. Expression level of heat shock proteins (HSP70 and HSP90), HSPs-associated signaling molecules (Akt, ERK, cytosolic and nuclear NFkB), and melatonin receptor was also measured by western blotting analysis. H2O2 induced oxidative stress significantly altered (P < 0.05) MDA and GSH level, SOD and CAT activity, and up regulated HSP70 and HSP90 expression in carp hepatocytes. Signaling proteins exhibited differential modulation as revealed from their expression patterns in H2O2-exposed fish hepatocytes, in comparison with control hepatocytes. Melatonin treatment of H2O2-stressed fish hepatocytes restored basal cellular oxidative status in a dose dependent manner. Melatonin was observed to be inducer of signaling process by modulation of signaling molecules and melatonin receptor. The results suggest that exogenous melatonin at the concentration of 100 µg/ml is required to improve oxidative status of the H2O2-stressed fish hepatocytes. In H2O2 exposed hepatocytes, melatonin modulates expression of HSP70 and HSP90 that enable the hepatocytes to become stress tolerant and survive by altering the actions of ERK, Akt, cytosolic and nuclear NFkB in the signal transduction pathways. Study also confirms that melatonin could act through melatonin receptor coupled to ERK/Akt signaling pathways. This understanding of the mechanism by which melatonin regulates oxidative status in the stressed hepatocytes may initiate the development of novel strategies for hepatic disease therapy in future.

Fish are exposed to different heavy metals that may induce numerous physiological changes. In the present study, we examined the redox state in response to a severe stress resulting from two heavy metals (Zinc and Lead) contamination in carp Cirrhinus cirrhosus. Fish were exposed to 1/10th of LC50 of the respective metals [zinc chloride (2.72 mg/L) and lead acetate (2.53 mg/L)] for 30 days and allowed to recover for another 30 days without any metal exposure. Concentration of metals, different enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant agents and expression levels of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and 90 were measured in the liver and the kidney of fish. The lipid peroxide levels in fish tissues gradually increased with duration of treatment for both metals. After 15 days of treatment, glutathione (GSH) levels had increased, but decreased as the treatment continued for 30 days and returned to basal levels after a 30-day recovery period. Activities of all the anti-oxidant enzymes, except glutathione peroxidase, in stressed fish were significantly increased compared to those in the control at 15 days and continued till the 30th day of treatment, showing a tendency to return to basal levels after the recovery period. Expression levels of HSP70 and HSP90 gradually increased after zinc and lead treatment, respectively. The expression of HSP was higher in the liver. The results suggest that different heavy metals may have differential effects on the redox state and induction of oxidative stress in carp, in vivo.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Basella alba and Tribulus terrestris for induction of masculinisation in Nile tilpia. B. alba leaves and T. terrestris seeds were extracted with water, ethanol, methanol, dichloromethane, hexane and successive methanol and mixed sex juveniles of Nile tilapia were subjected to dietary treatment with the extracts at the concentration of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 gm/kg feed. Treatment with both the plants showed no adverse effect on general fish health. There was no significant interaction effects (P>0.05) of solvent and concentration, and solvent and plant material for percentage of males. But, significant interaction effect (P<0.05) of concentration and plant material was observed for percentage of males. Also, there was significant interaction effect (P<0.05) of solvent, concentration and plant material for percentage of males. For dietary administration of B. alba leaves, the highest percentage of males (83.2±0.7) was obtained by treatment with ethanol extract at the concentration of 1.0 gm/kg feed. For all the solvents, the highest percentage of males was observed at the concentration of 1.0 gm/kg. But, in treatment with T. terrestris seeds, the highest percentage of males (88.9±1.1) was obtained with ethanol extract at the concentration of 1.5 gm/kg feed, which was also the highest percentage of males for all the treatment categories.