Mercury induced alterations in the intestinal absorption of nutrients in the fresh water murrel, Channa punctatus

The effect of five concentrations (10 mM, 1 mM, 0.1 mM, 0.01 mM and 0.001 mM) of mercury on the rate of absorption of glucose, fructose, glycine and tryptophan by the intestine of the fresh water murrel C. punctatus has been studied. Intestinal absorption of these nutrients was also examined in fish exposed to a sublethal concentration (3 mu g/1) of mercury for 15 and 30 days. Significant decrease was recorded in the rate of intestinal absorption of all the four nutrients with higher concentrations (10 mM, 1 mM and 0.1 mM) of mercury. Exposure of fish by bath to mercury also resulted in significant decrease in the intestinal transport rate of all the four nutrients after 30 days.