Alterations in blood parameters, DNA damage, oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes and immune-related genes expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to glyphosate-based herbicide

Abstract

In this study, effects of different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/L) of glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were investigated after a 14-day of exposure. After determination of LC₅₀ value, effects of GBH on hematological and serum biochemical parameters in blood samples, DNA damage, lipid peroxidation and catalase activity in liver tissues, expression levels of antioxidant enzyme-related genes (SOD, CAT, GPx, and GST) and immune-related genes (TGF-β, TGF-α and IL1-β) were evaluated. The LC₅₀ value has been found as 44.4 mg/L for GBH. GBH exposure at all concentrations caused alterations in blood parameters. GBH induced oxidative stress in liver and DNA damage in blood. Antioxidant enzyme-related genes were significantly up-regulated to suppress oxidative stress. On the other hand, the expression levels of immune-related genes decreased in fish exposure to particularly ≥20 mg/L GBH.

Keywords: DNA damage; Gene expression; Glyphosate; Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus); Oxidative stress.