Effects of Subchronic Exposure to Phosalone on Oxidative Stress and Histopathological Alterations in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio, L., 1758)

Abstract

In this study, possible oxidative stress, biomarkers, and histopathological alterations were investigated in common carp (Cyprinus carpio, L., 1758) that were exposed to various phosalone concentrations in vivo. Fish were exposed to 0.15, 0.3, and 0.6 mg/L phosalone concentrations in a semistatic regime for 14 d. Biomarkers, including Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase, reduced glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and histopathological changes, were determined in gills, liver, and kidney tissues of fish. Sublethal phosalone concentrations produced lipid peroxidation and impairment in the antioxidant defense system by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. While GSH increased in all groups at d 7 compared to control, GSH fell significantly at medium and high doses at d 14. Reduced GSH levels were diminished in all tissues and a significant induction in lipid peroxidation (TBARS) was observed. Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase enzyme activity was significantly inhibited especially in gills. No histopathological effects were observed in the control group. Lamellar aneurysm, lamellar fusion, hyperplasia, epithelial lifting, and hemorrhages were observed in gill tissues exposed to phosalone. Histopathological effects in the liver tissues of fish exposed to phosalone were characterized by cytoplasmic vacuolation, congestion, hypertrophy, and nuclear degeneration. Hypertrophy, tubule degeneration, mononuclear cell infiltration, and dilation of glomerular capillaries were noted in kidney tissues exposed to phosalone. The results indicate that phosalone exposure adversely affected the health of the fish, attributable to oxidative stress.

Acknowledgments

This study was partly supported by the Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Scientific Foundation (BAP) (project 2010/80).