Cross talk between arsenic and cold on the regulation of inorganic phosphate level in peripheral tissues of fresh water fishes (Channa punctata)

Cold acclimation shows the increased Pi in skeletal muscle of Channa punctata variety of fishes after 1 h and 2 h while reduces at prolonged exposure (4 h). Similar stimulatory effects were observed in heart, however, reduced at 30 min and 4 h and in liver it causes prevention of Pi release after 30 min, 1 h, 2 h and 4 h respectively. In gastrointestinal tract, the effects were pronounced whenever the fishes were exposed to cold for 1 h and 2 h, while reduced activity was demonstrated after 4 h of the treatment. To clarify the role of arsenic on cold-induced Pi release, fishes were exposed to Na2HAsO4 which reduced the effect in skeletal muscle, gastrointestinal tract and heart effectively and significantly. Whenever the fishes were exposed to cold with arsenic, the amount of Pi was also reduced than the control. In liver of arsenic treated fishes, the increased results were found while in cold, the values were reduced again in presence of arsenic compared to control and cold exposed fishes. Our findings give a new insight for the regulation of adaptive response tissue specifically and differentially and arsenic might be involved in cross talk through impairment of the cold-induced effect.