Protective Role of Sulforaphane against Physiological Toxicity of Triphenyltin in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus)

Abstract

This experiment mainly explored the protective role of sulforaphane (SFN) against physiological toxicity of triphenyltin (TPT) in Cyprinus carpio haematopterus. In total, 320 Fish (56.90 ± 0.40 g) were randomly divided into four groups with four replicates each. The control group was fed the basal diet, the TPT group (TPT) was exposed to 10 ng L−1 TPT on the basis of the control group, the SFN + TPT group (TPT + SFN) was fed a diet supplemented with 10 mg kg−1 SFN on the TPT group, and the SFN group (SFN) was fed a diet supplemented with 10 mg kg−1 SFN. After 56 days of breeding trials, the results showed that TPT exposure resulted in a remarkable decrease (p < 0.05) in final weight, weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and condition factor (CF), but an increase (p < 0.05) in feed conversion ratio (FCR) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) of fish. TPT treatment decreased (p < 0.05) the amounts of hematocrit (Hct) and hemoglobin (Hb), plasma complement component 3 (C3) and C4 contents, alternative complement pathway (ACH50), acid phosphatase (ACP) and lysozyme (LZM) activities, liver glutathione (GSH) content, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities, interleukin 10 (IL-10), and SOD mRNA expressions, but increased (p < 0.05) plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, liver malonaldehyde (MDA) content, tumor Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), and necrosis factor α (TNFα), IL-1β, and MDA mRNA expressions. A histological analysis of the liver showed that a higher occurrence rates of the hepatocyte hypertrophy, nuclear disappearance and hepatocyte vacuolization was observed in the hepatocytes of fish exposed to TPT, and it was accompanied by the dilation of hepatic sinusoids. In addition, the toxicity induced by TPT was significantly improved in the groups that were treated with SFN, and SFN was able to improve growth performance and immunity, alleviate TPT-induced changes in inflammatory factors, ameliorate oxidative stress, and increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes (p < 0.05). The addition of SFN also alleviated liver damage caused by TPT and protected the structural integrity of the liver. Overall, these findings suggest that TPT inhibited the growth, immunity, and antioxidant capacity of Cyprinus carpio haematopteru. Dietary SFN could be beneficial for growth promotion, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and protection of liver structural integrity. Therefore, SFN is a prospective feed supplement for ameliorating the damage caused to fish by TPT contamination.