ABSTRACT
The present study explored the induced genotoxicity (DNA damage) due to organophosphate pesticide profenofos (PFF) after in vivo exposure in freshwater fish Channa punctatus by the use of Comet assay and Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). The fish specimens were exposed to sub-lethal concentration of 1.16â¯ppb (50% of LC50) in a semi-static system and the DNA damage was assessed in exposed and control fish. The DNA damage was measured in erythrocytes as the percentage of DNA damage in Comet tails and RAPD technique using oligonucleotide primers of fish specimens exposed to the sublethal concentrations of PFF. The most informative primers in terms of variation in RAPD profile were found to be OPA-01, OPA-03, OPB-02, OPB-01 and OPA-13. Appearance/disappearance of bands and increase/decrease in the band intensity were evident in the RAPD profile of fish specimens exposed to PFF as compared to the control. Findings from the present study suggest that the potential impacts of assessment of the genotoxic impact of pesticide on fish.
Subject(s)
Comet Assay/methods , DNA Damage/drug effects , DNA/analysis , Fishes/genetics , Insecticides/toxicity , Organothiophosphates/toxicity , Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique/methods , Animals , Fishes/growth & development , Fresh WaterABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the induced genotoxicity (DNA damage) due to organophosphate pesticide profenofos (PFF) in gill cells of freshwater fish Channa punctatus using single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)/Comet assay. The 96h LC(50) value of PFF (50% EC) was estimated for the fish species in a semistatic system and then three sub-lethal of LC(50) concentrations viz the sub-lethal 1, sub-lethal 2 and sub-lethal 3 concentrations were determined as 0.58ppb, 1.16ppb and 1.74ppb, respectively. The fish specimens were exposed to these concentrations of the pesticide and the gill tissue samplings were done on 24h, 48h, 72h and 96h post exposure for assessment of DNA damage in terms of percentage of DNA in comet tails. In general, a concentration dependent response was observed in the gill cells with induction of maximum DNA damage at the highest concentration of PFF. The results of the present investigation indicated that PFF could potentially induce genotoxic effect in fish, even in sub-lethal concentrations and SCGE as a sensitive and reliable tool for in vivo assessment of DNA damage caused by the genotoxic agents.
Subject(s)
DNA Damage/drug effects , Mutagens/toxicity , Organothiophosphates/toxicity , Perciformes/genetics , Pesticides/toxicity , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity , Animals , Comet Assay/methods , Gills/cytology , Gills/drug effectsABSTRACT
Acute toxicity of an organophosphate pesticide profenofos (O-4-bromo-2- chlorophenyl-O-ethyl S-propyl phosphorothioate) to freshwater fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch), was studied in a static bioassay. Estimated 96-hour LC(50) of profenofos was found to be 2.68 µgL(-1). On the basis of the obtained LC(50) values for 96-hour exposure intervals, profenofos can be rated as highly toxic to C. punctatus. Fish exposed to profenofos showed hyper excitability, discoloration, erratic swimming, and secretion of excess amounts of mucus on the body and gills with eventual exhaustion and death.
