In vitro effect of mercury on tissue phosphatases of Notopterus notopterus and the role of EDTA and AA in their restoration

In vitro effects of four sublethal concentrations (0.10, 0.40, 0.80 and 1.20 micrograms) of mercury (hg) on acid, alkaline and glucose-6-phosphatases of liver, kidney and gills of Notopterus notopterus were studied. The maximum (80.76%) significant (P less than 0.001) inhibition in acid phosphatase of gills and minimum (36.66%) significant (P less than 0.05%) inhibition in alkaline phosphatase of kidney was observed at 1.20 microgram and 0.10 microgram Hg concentrations, respectively. EDTA and ascorbic acid (AA) restored the phosphatase activity to the greatest extent when administered with the Hg.