Biochemical modulation in male specimens of Channa punctatus (Bloch) under different habitats and seasons

Abstract

Studies were undertaken to identify the changes in biochemical parameters including water content, lipid and protein in tissues of liver, testis and muscle of Channa punctatus under natural and captive conditions along with physico-chemical parameters for the period January to December, 2008. Result shows that values of lipid in captive condition in muscle, liver and testis ranged from 1 to 4, 1.98 to 5.57 and 1.25 to 4.40%, respectively while in natural habitat, values ranged from 1 to 5, 1.94 to 5.16 and 1.21 to 5.13%, respectively. Water content in captive condition was observed to be in the range of 74.72 to 80.73, 73.97 to 76.92 and 75.56 to 77.97%, respectively and in natural habitat it varied from 72.65 to 80.70, 71.61 to 76.89 and 72.41 to 77.94%, respectively. An increase in water content was observed towards maturation in testis. Protein content in muscle under captive and natural habitat was in the range of 15.97 to 19.37 and 16.70 to 19.40%, respectively. All parameters showed a significant variation (p<0.01) and significant correlation (p<0.01) among the muscles, liver and testis in specimens under captive as well as natural habitat. Peak spawning period in nature was observed during May to August in captive condition indicating that gonadal development and its cyclicity is influenced by the physico-chemical parameters, food and feeding conditions, environmental factors and other stresses. This study shows that the variation in biochemical changes are influenced by variation in seasons due to physico-chemical parameters of the habitat and perhaps the niche.

Key words: Habitat, Channa punctatus, testis, biochemical change, physico-chemical parameter.