THE EFFECT OF WASTEWATER EFFLUENT ON HYPOXIA INDUCED FACTOR1 ALPHA(HIF1-ALPHA) GENE EXPRESSION IN AFRICAN CATFISH (Clarias garienpinus).

ABSTRACT

Exposure of aquatic organisms to wastewater effluents has shown to haveadverseeffect on them. In this study, research was carried out to determine the genotoxiceffectof different concentrations of wastewater effluents obtained fromthe industryontheHIF-1-alpha gene expression in Clarias garienpinus Gill samples were extractedfromjuvenile C. garienpinus, followed by RNA isolation, quantification and stabilizationof theisolated RNA, synthesis of complementary DNA, and agarose gel electrophoresis. Thisprocedure followed standard guidelines. The results obtained fromthe study showedthe varying expression levels of HIF-1--alpha at concentration levels 0.5%, 1.5%, 3.5%, and 5.0%. The statistically significant correlation of the expression levels of thegenesat various concentrations with the equivalent controls revealed that the increaseintheexpression of the genes in response to industrial effluent exposure was statisticallysignificant (p < 0.05). The expression of the genes suggests that C.garienpinusisnegatively impacted by industrial effluent. It is therefore recommendedthatwastewater effluents should be properly treated before being disposed intowaterbodies to prevent its adverse effect on aquatic organism.