Effects of Sublethal Concentrations of Cypermethrin on the Gills of Lake Van Fish (Alburnus Tarichi)

Abstract

Cypermethrin is one of the most commonly used pesticides in the Lake Van Basin of Turkey. In this study, the effects of a sublethal dose (0.05 µg/L) of cypermethrin for 96 h on the gills of Lake Van fish (Alburnus tarichi), the only vertebrate species living in Lake Van, were investigated. Levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), Na,K-ATPase, and DNA damage (8-OHdG) were determined immunohistochemically in the gills. In addition, changes in gill mucous cells and histopathological changes in gill tissues after 96 h were investigated. At the end of the cypermethrin administration, an increase was observed in the numbers of mitochondria-rich cells, HSP70-positive cells, and 8-OHdG-positive cells in the gills. A decrease in both the number and volume of mucous cells was detected. The expansion of blood vessels, aneurysms, lamellar lifting, hypertrophy, lamellar fusion, and necrosis were observed in gill tissues. It was concluded that the 96-h sublethal application of cypermethrin caused stress, deterioration of osmoregulation, DNA damage, and histopathological damage in the gills of Lake Van fish. © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.