The beneficial effects of ascorbic acid during chlorpyrifos-induced oxidative stress and histopathological changes in Oreochromis spilurus

Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate the oxidative stress and histopathological changes of chlorpyrifos (CPF; Dursban 48) on sub-adult Oreochromis spilurus as well as the protective role of vitamin C supplementation. The fish were divided into four groups (10 fish/each). The feeding rate was 3% of body weight for fish of each aquarium and the diets were given twice daily for 14 days as follows; aquarium I: free basal diet (untreated group), aquarium II: basal diet with 100 mg/kg of Vit C, aquarium III: basal diet with 1/4 LC50-96 hr of CPF and aquarium IV: basal diet with pesticide as in group III and Vit C. The biochemical changes induced by CPF stress is due to disturbed metabolism manifested as inhibition of enzymes, total proteins, total lipid, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant. The biochemical alternation was associated with histopathological changes in liver, kidney and muscles tissues. The calculated 96-hr LC50 value of CPF to sub-adults tilapia, O. spilurus was 6.48 μM. The lipid peroxidation levels in CPF and Vit C group were decreased by 0.68-, 0.59- and 0.53-fold in liver, kidney and muscle tissues as compared to CPF group, respectively. Vit C treatment for CPF-intoxicated fish raised the activity of superoxide dismutase by 1.24-, 1.44- and 1.07-fold for liver, kidney and muscles as compared to CPF group, respectively. The supplementation of Vit C in the food with CPF treated-fish had improved the oxidative/antioxidant status and the histological architecture of the fish.