Abstract
Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphorus insecticide commonly used for domestic and agricultural purposes. The risk posed by environmental contamination from CPF is well acknowledged, and it has been detected worldwide in aquatic habitats and coastal areas. In addition, due to its slower degradation in seawater compared to freshwater, CPF is of particular concern for marine environments. Here, we investigated for the first time the morpho-functional alterations induced by CPF on the gills of Thalassoma pavo, a widespread species in the Mediterranean Sea. We tested the effects of two sublethal concentrations (4 and 8 µg/L) after 48 and 96 h. Our study demonstrates that the alterations induced by CPF are dose and time-dependent and highlight the harmful properties of this insecticide. After exposure to the low tested concentration, the more frequent alteration is an intense proliferation of the primary epithelium, whereas after exposure to the high concentration, the primary epithelium proliferation is less extensive, and the most evident effects are the thinning of secondary lamellae and the ectopia of chloride and goblet cells. CPF also modulated the expression of Na+/K+-ATPase. Dilation of lamellar apical tips, pillar cell degeneration, and appearance of aneurysms are often observed.
Highlights
Human population growth has led to the overexploitation of lands for agricultural purposes resulting in a proportional increase in global use of pesticides and fertilizers [1]
Considering the world population should reach around 9 billion people by 2050 [2], it is unlikely that pesticide use will be reduced in the near future, with detrimental consequences for public and environmental health [3]
CPF exposure resulted in several histopathological alterations that could be observed in all individuals from both exposed groups, and the extent of the damages was dose and time-dependent (Table 1; p < 0.001)
Summary
Human population growth has led to the overexploitation of lands for agricultural purposes resulting in a proportional increase in global use of pesticides and fertilizers [1]. The fish gills play an important role in several physiological functions such as gas exchange, osmoregulation, and excretion, and are widely used in ecotoxicological studies as a biomarker of environmental pollution Due to their wide surface area and direct contact with external medium, gills are one of the organs most affected by xenobiotics, and histopathological investigations of this organ are considered a sensitive tool for fish health assessment [27]. We investigate, for the first time, the effects of short-term exposure to CPF on the ornate wrasse Thalassoma pavo, a widespread marine species of the Mediterranean Sea. The morphological and ultrastructural alterations of gills induced by two concentrations of CPF (4 and 8 μg/L) have been evaluated after 48 and 96 h of exposure. This study will contribute to the evaluation of the risk related to CPF presence in coastal marine ecosystems
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
