4-Nonylphenol induced brain damage in juvenile African catfish (Clarias garepinus)

Abstract

Although few studies have been done to evaluate the neurotoxic effect of 4-nonylphenol on the aquatic fauna, there is a shortage in knowledge about the effect of the dose-dependent damage of 4-NP in juvenile of C. gariepinus. So, the present study aims to investigate the neurotoxic effects of 4-NP in juvenile of Clarias garepinus through evaluation of oxidative stress indices, neurotoxic biomarkers, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, and histopathological alterations. To carry out this work, healthy juvenile fish were categorized into four groups (seven fish/group; three replicates). One as control and the other three groups were exposed for 15 days to 4-nonylphenol concentrations as 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg/L, respectively, then 15 days as recovery period. The neurotoxiclogical biomarkers and antioxidant parameters after exposure to 4-NP showed significant differences between treatments and the control (P < 0.05) in all parameters except monoamine oxidase, total protein, and lipid peroxidation. The histopathological alterations of 4-NP-treated in brain tissues (telencephalon and cerebellum) were recorded in juvenile of Clarias gariepinus reflecting their sensitivity to 4-NP and induced neurotoxic effect as dose-dependent manner in the juvenile C. gariepinus. We concluded that the neurotoxic effect of 4-NP is dose-dependent on biomarkers and brain tissue.