Measurement of AChE activity in the brain of sea, well- and river-fed white fish (Rutilus frisi) as a health index

Organophosphorous (OP) compounds are widely used as pesticides, insecticides and herbicides in cultivation areas such as Mazandaran. These agents affect the environment and human health. The aim of the present study was to determine the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in fishes that have been exposed to pesticides or other toxins. The activity of AChE was measured using colorimetric Ellman procedure. Fishes (white fish, Rutilus frisi, n =8) were caught from three different sources (Caspian sea, well- and river- fed fish). The data was analyzed by Student Newman Kelus test. The enzyme activity was 3.80, 1.38 and 0.22 μM hydrolyzed ASCh/min/g for sea, well and river fish brains, respectively. The mean AChE activity was significantly different in the three groups (P<0.001). The pollution in the river-fed fishes was especially high, since their exposure to OP compounds, heavy metals and other toxins had been higher than others. Accumulation of heavy metals in wells, is a proposed mechanism for reduction of AChE activity in well-fed fishes.