Journal of Stress Physiology & Biochemistry, Vol. 6 No. 1
2010, pp. 22 - 32 ISSN 1997-0838
Original Text Copyright (cc) 2010 by Srivastava and Choudhary
ORIGINAL
ARTICLE
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QueryDate : 2016-12-24
Cites : 14
Effect of artificial photoperiod on the
blood cell indices of the catfish, Clarias
batrachus
S Srivastava* and Sanjeev K Choudhary
Department of Zoology, MM(P.G.)
College, Modinagar (C.C.S. University, Meerut), MODINAGAR-201204. INDIA. *Email- ssrivastava_1@rediffmail.com
Received February 12, 2010
The present study is aimed to assess the influence of
artificial photoperiod on the blood cell indices of an Indian catfish, Clarias batrachus
(Linn.). Blood samples taken from adult fishes exposed to artificial
photoperiod of 24L:0D and 0L:24D for a short period of 24 hrs, were
analyzed for total RBC, total WBC, differential leukocyte count
(DLC) and some physiological variables – glucose and chloride. The
total RBC and WBC counts were unaffected by both the artificial
photoperiod regimes. However, lymphopenia (p<.05) and neutrophilia
(p<.05) were observed under 24L:0D photoperiod. Blood chloride
levels were significantly higher (p<.05) in 24L:0D whereas blood
glucose levels remained unchanged in both the photoperiod treatments.
The 0L:24D photoperiod did not produce any significant change in the
blood cell indices neither in the physiological variables. The findings
indicate that exposure to continuous light for as short a duration as
of 24 hrs elicits stress responses in the leukocyte profile of this
nocturnal fish and highlights the role of leukocyte profile as
potential stress biomarkers in vertebrates.
