Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) Activities in Selected Tissues of Rats Fed on Processed Atlantic Horse Mackerel (<i>Trachurus trachurus</i>)

Abstract

Trachurus trachurus (locally called kote) is a table fish that has become increasingly important in the Nigerian diet because of its low price. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of processed kote on the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in selected tissues of weaned male albino rats using standard methods. Chemical analyses were carried out on processed fillet, skin, head & bone (SHB) diets under standard conditions. 40 male rats (40.76 ± 2.42 g) were fed with processed fillet or SHB diets for 14 days to assay for the activities of ALP in harvested samples of brain, liver, kidney, heart, stomach, small intestine and spleen; ALT and AST in the liver and heart. All data were subjected to analysis of variance by Duncan’s multiple range test and considered significant at a minimum of p < 0.05. Levels of ALP & AST in the liver, heart, kidney and brain were reduced (p < 0.05) in rats fed on test diets compared with the controls, but within accepted limit. The level of ALT in the kidney, stomach and small intestine were elevated (p < 0.05) compared to the controls, but within the accepted limit. In conclusion, coal smoked fillet and SHB greatly improved healthy growth of the rats, followed by the wood smoked and poached diets. Results suggested that processed kote SHB could be a veritable source of valuable nutrients for human food and animal feed.