The effect of endosulfan (insecticide) on expression of vitelogenin gene in female silver sharkminnow (Osteochilus hasseltii C. V.)

Abstract

Endosulfan is an organochlorine insecticide that has high toxicity, persistent and bioaccumulative. Endosulfan entering the waters can cause subletal toxicity to fish. Endosulfan residues that enter the body of the fish will inhibit their reproduction, such as the formation of vitelogenin. This study aimed to determine the effect of concentration and length of time endosulfan exposure which could reduce vitelogenin gene expression in female silver sharkminnow (Osteochilus hasseltii C. V.). Complete randomized design was applied using four treatments of endosulfan concentration i.e. 0 ppb, 0.88 ppb, 1.76 ppb and 2.64 ppb, respectively. The research was conducted for four weeks with sampling frequency every two weeks. The molecular study was carried out four steps include organ preparation, RNA isolation and DNAse treatment, measurement of RNA concentration and vitelogenin gene expression and RT-PCR was used in this study. Gene expression data analyzed by One Way ANOVA to each of the response variables to know whether differences existed among treatments. The results showed that the concentration and exposure time of endosulfan had not given different result on each treatment. This was presumably because the concentration of endosulfan given had not been able to influence changes in gene expression of vitelogenin in female silver sharkminnow.