Study of Superoxide Dismutases (SOD) Activities in Labeo Rohita in Response to Dissolved Oxygen

Abstract: Superoxide Dismutases (SOD) are metal-containing, antioxidant scavenging enzymes that detoxify the reactive oxygens by catalyzing the dismutation of superoxide radicals to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. SOD exists in virtually all oxygen respiring organisms and has been proposed to be important for stress tolerance during environmental adversity. SOD metabolize Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) into a safe product, and hence prevents cellular damage. Fishes are exposed to daily and seasonal fluctuations in oxygen availability. Study of the histological activities of SOD in Labeo rohita shows significant differences among different tissues types and in response to change in the content of dissolved oxygen from different experimental sites. Results also suggest that the total SOD activities positively correlated with the content of dissolved oxygen in the water samples.

Keywords: Superoxide dismutases, Labeo rohita , dissolved oxygen, reactive oxygen.