Biochemical parameters (level of lipid peroxidation and oxidized proteins, glucose content; activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, aminotransferases and cholinesterase) and histopathological parameters of the liver are studied for European black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus, red mullet Mullus ponticus, and the East Atlantic peacock wasse Symphodus tinca. Most of the biochemical and histopathological responses in the fish liver were non-specific; they depended on the biological characteristics of the species, ecological group, and parasite infestation. High values of lipid peroxidation and oxidized proteins, superoxide dismutase activity, and the occurrence of melanomacrophage centers in the liver of the European black scorpionfish are a consequence of the more pronounced toxic effect of the environment, caused by constant contact with contaminated sediments. A response to parasitic invasion and the development of secondary inflammation, represented by the highest levels of lipid peroxidation, peroxidase activity, and the presence of melanomacrophage centers, was found in the liver of the bottom-pelagic East Atlantic peacock wasse. The aminotransferase and cholinesterase activities and glucose content increased in a number of studied fish species in order of increasing their natural mobility. Five types of histopathological changes of the liver were detected, related to three types of responses (circulatory disorders, regressive changes and inflammatory responses). Most of the histopathological changes were corresponded to the first factor of significance and were reversible, which indicated a satisfactory condition of the fish and a weak toxic effect of the environment.
T. B. Sigacheva (Wed,) studied this question.