Developmental toxic effects of monocrotophos, an organophosphorous pesticide, on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

Pamanji, Rajesh; Bethu, M. S.; Yashwanth, B.; Leelavathi, S.; Venkateswara Rao, J.

Developmental toxic effects of monocrotophos, an organophosphorous pesticide, on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

2015

Pamanji, Rajesh | Bethu, M. S. | Yashwanth, B. | Leelavathi, S. | Venkateswara Rao, J.

The present study examined the response of zebrafish embryos exposed to different concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 mg/L) of monocrotophos under static conditions for 96 h. We found that mortality had occurred within 48 h at all test concentrations, later insignificant mortality was observed. Monocrotophos (MCP) can be rated as moderately toxic to the Zebrafish embryos with a 96-h median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of 37.44 ± 3.32 mg/L. In contrast, it greatly affected the development of zebrafish embryos by inducing several developmental abnormalities like pericardial edema, altered heart development, spinal and vertebral anomalies in a concentration-dependent manner. A significant percent reduction in length by 9–48 % and heart beats by 18–51 % was observed in hatchlings exposed to LC₁₀and LC₅₀concentrations at 96 h when compared to controls. The process of looping formation of heart at embryonic stage was greatly affected by the LC₅₀concentration of MCP. The neurotoxic potentiality of MCP was assessed by using a marker enzyme, acetylcholinesterase in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. MCP was found to be the most potent inhibitor of AChE in vitro with an IC₅₀value of 4.3 × 10⁻⁴ M. The whole-body AChE enzyme activity in vivo was significantly inhibited during the exposure tenure with the maximum inhibition of 62 % at 24 h.

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