Subchronic Exposure to Fenthion Induces Hematological Changes in Liver Tissue of African Catfish Clarias gariepinus

Hematological, biochemical, and biometric changes in Clarias gariepinus exposed to antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) is a neuroleptic and antipsychotic medication for individuals suffering from schizophrenia and other medical conditions. This study investigated the effects of CPZ on the hematological, biochemical, and biometric characteristics in juvenile Clarias gariepinus. The fish were exposed to 0.53, 1.06, and 2.11 mgL^-1 CPZ for 15 days after which they were withdrawn from the toxicant and allowed to recover for 5 days. Blood were sampled from the fish on days 1, 5, 10, 15, and during the 5-day recovery for hematological and biochemical analysis, and thereafter, the fish were sacrificed for the morphometric analysis. While the values of the white blood cells significantly increased in the exposed fish, the hemoglobin, red blood cells, and packed cell volume decreased. Compared with the control, there were no significant differences in the values of the blood derivatives in the exposed fish. The values of protein and glucose reduced, but those of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase were significantly elevated. Though there was no significant difference in the condition factor, a significant increase in hepatosomatic index occurred on day 15 at 5.28 mg/L CPZ. After the 5-day withdrawal from the drug, most of the studied parameters returned to the control values. The present study indicated that CPZ is toxic to fish and should be used with utmost care to guard against toxicological effect on non-target organisms.

Haloperidol alters the behavioral, hematological and biochemical parameters of freshwater African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822)

The presence of drugs and their metabolites in surface waters and municipal effluents has been reported in several studies, but their impacts on aquatic organisms are not yet well studied. The present study investigated the effects of exposure to the antipsychotic drug, haloperidol on the behavioral, hematological and biochemical parameters in juvenile Clarias gariepinus. The fishes were exposed to 0.12, 0.24 and 0.48 mg/L haloperidol for 15 days and later withdrawn from the toxicant and allowed to recover for 5 days. Blood was sampled on days 1, 5, 10, 15, and after the 5-day recovery for hematological and biochemical analysis. The pack cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), reticulocytes and lymphocyte counts were significantly reduced in the exposed fish. The neutrophil counts were increased while that of monocytes, basophils and eosinophils were not affected by the drug. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were not different from the control on exposure to the drug. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and acid phosphatase (ACP); and serum creatinine, bile acid and bilirubin were increased on 15-day exposure to the drug. The activity of the clotting factor fibrinogen was reduced compared to the control after exposure to the drug. Haloperidol at concentrations used on 15-day exposure were toxic to fish, but the effect appeared short-lived, as it dissipated on 5-day withdrawal from the drug. While further studies are needed to ascertain the impact of prolonged exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations, caution is advised to avoid eco-toxicological damage to aquatic organisms.

Dietary exposure to polyvinyl chloride microparticles induced oxidative stress and hepatic damage in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

The present study investigated the effects of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microparticles (MP) on hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities, serum biochemical and liver histology of juvenile Clarias gariepinus. A total of 180 (25.15 g average weight) C. gariepinus were fed PVC MP (95.41 ± 4.23 μm) spiked diets at 0.5, 1.5, 3.0 percentage inclusion levels and a control diet for 45 days of exposure, then followed by 30 days of depuration trials. Fish specimens (9) from each treatment were sampled every 15-day interval for serum biochemical, liver antioxidant enzymes and histopathological assay. Glucose and triglyceride levels increased significantly in PVC-treated groups when compared with the control. Protein levels of 0.5% and 3.0% PVC-treated groups reduced significantly on the 15th and 30th day exposure periods, while serum enzyme activities of all PVC-treated groups increased significantly in a time-dependent manner. Antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase) activity in the liver of the treated groups also decreased progressively in a time-dependent manner. A time-dependent elevation in lipid peroxidation levels was observed in PVC MP-treated groups. Histopathological assessment of the fish liver showed mild to severe levels of glycogen depletion, fatty vacuolation and degeneration, hepatocellular necrosis in PVC-treated groups with reference to the control. The present study revealed that PVC microplastic induced oxidative damage and hepatic histopathological alterations in the exposed fish.

Acute renal involvement in organophosphate poisoning: histological and immunochemical investigations

Purpose: Today, the long-term effects of partial exposure of cholinesterase on the kidney continue to be a research topic. In this study, we aimed to histopathologically investigate the possible effect of acute toxicity due to fenthion, an organophosphate (OP) compound, on the kidneys.

Methods: In all, 21 rats were randomly divided into three groups. Experimental group was each administered intraperitoneal 0.8 g/kg fenthion within physiologic serum. Sham group was only administered intraperitoneal physiologic serum. The control group continued normal nutrition with no procedure performed. After 24 h, all rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Half of the recipient kidney tissues were examined histopathologically and the other half biochemically.

Results: No histopathological findings were found in the control group. Rats in the experimental group were observed to have epithelial cell disorganization in tubules, moderate epithelial cell loss, and degeneration. Again, expansion of tubules, vacuolization of tubular epithelial cells, and tubular structure approaching atrophy were observed, with cells approaching apoptosis and common hemorrhage noted although rats in the sham group were observed to have mild tubular degeneration.

Conclusions: It should not be forgotten that one of the causes of systemic complaints linked to acute toxicity exposed to the OP compound of fenthion may be cellular injury to glomerular and tubular structures in the kidneys.