Determination of micronuclei frequency in Danio rerio for assessing genotoxicity induced by propineb

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the genotoxic effect of Propineb fungicide at different concentrations (0.167, 0.335 and 0.670 mg L−1) and different treatment times (24, 48, 72 and 96 h) on Danio rerio. At the end of the treatment periods, blood was collected from the fish with a heparin injector; smear preparations were prepared, fixed and stained. In the prepared preparations, the numbers of cells with MN and erythrocyte nucleus abnormalities were examined. It was found that propineb increased micronucleus formation at all treatment times and concentrations and induced the formation of erythrocytes with morphological abnormal nuclei such as segmented, kidney-shaped, notched, vacuolated nuclei and binucleated. The increase in micronucleus formation and the number of erythrocytes with abnormal nuclei were found to be concentration and treatment time-dependent. In conclusion, in this study, Danio rerio erythrocytes were used to evaluate the genotoxic effects of propineb fungicide on aquatic organisms, which have an important place in environmental risk assessment criteria. Since fungicides used in agricultural control such as propineb may have the potential to be genotoxic to aquatic organisms, the results of toxicity tests should be taken into consideration in the selection and use of concentrations of these chemicals.