QUANTIFICATION OF NUCLEIC ACID FROM FRESH WATER FISH Punctius arenatus (Day) EXPOSED TO PESTICIDES

Pesticides have an innate capacity to cause damage to biological system. The range of pesticide toxicity is large in aquatic organisms, among different fish species. In the present investigation, effect of sublethal concentration of two different kinds of pesticides Fenvalerate (synthetic pyrethroid) and Monocrotophos (organophosphate) for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs were observed on DNA and RNA contents in selected tissues like gills, liver, kidney and muscle of freshwater fish Punctius arenatus (Day). Nucleic acids like DNA and RNA react differently with the various concentration and period of pesticidal exposure. An overall decrease in nucleic acid was noted in these contents which is statistically significant.