The in vivo effect of mercuric chloride on some digestive enzymes of a fresh water teleost fish, Channa punctatus.

Alterations in the activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase amylase, trypsin, pepsin, aminotripeptidase, glycylglycine dipeptidase and carnosinase due to exposure of Channa punctatus to a sublethal concentration (0.30 mg/L) of mercuric chloride by bath for 20 days have been studied in the different parts of the digestive system. Afall in the activities of the three phosphatases was recorded except for alkaline phosphatase which showed a slight elevation in activity in intestine and pyloric caeca. An increase in the activity of amylase and the two proteases was observed in all the portions of the digestive system. The three peptidases revealed a decrease in activity.