Polluted water exacerbates Barbus callensis oocyte oxidative status

Abstract The deleterious effects of environmental pollutants on cellular components and tissues damage in fish have been studied extensively. However, there is no data about the oxidative status of fish oocytes once released into water. This study aimed to investigate the effects of polluted (Soummam River) and unpolluted (Agrioun River) fresh water on the oxidative biomarkers of Barbus callensis (=Lucibarbus callensis) (Val.) oocytes. The experimental design consisted of collecting fish oocytes from polluted and unpolluted rivers and then activating these oocytes separately in water collected from each site. Four groups were considered: oocytes from the Agrioun River activated in Agrioun fresh water (A-oocytes/A-fresh water); oocytes from the Agrioun River activated in Soummam fresh water (A-oocytes/S-fresh water); oocytes from the Soummam River activated in Agrioun fresh water (S-oocytes/A-fresh water); and oocytes from the Soummam River activated in Soummam fresh water (S-oocytes/S-fresh water). Oxidative stress biomarkers were evaluated by measuring total antioxidant status (TAS), catalase (CAT) activity, and cell-free hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations. The results showed that the oxidative status of fish oocytes was significantly affected by the quality of fresh water. Unpolluted fresh water improved the antioxidant activity of the fish oocytes. The results of this study suggest that once oocytes are released into polluted water, antioxidant protection is affected with subsequent cellular oxidative damage and potential reproduction impairment.