FTIR study of zinc-induced biochemical changes in the liver of Indian carp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Labeo rohita</Emphasis>

Zinc is an essential metal for different physiological functions and becomes toxic when elevated concentrations are introduced into the environment. In the present study, an attempt is made to analyze zinc-induced biochemical changes in the liver tissues of freshwater fingerlings of Labeo rohita using Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy. Several important features have been observed in the FTIR spectra of zinc-intoxicated liver tissues, namely, altered membrane lipid, altered protein profile, and increased glycogen content, indicating an alteration in the lipid and protein profiles leading to modification in membrane composition. Further, it is observed that acute exposure to zinc causes some alteration in protein profile with a decrease in α-helix and an increase in random coil structure. Treatment with the chelating agent D-penicillamine reduces the biochemical contents in the liver tissues. This shows that D-penicillamine is a good antidote for zinc toxicity. Published in Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 5, pp. 746–752, September–October, 2008.