The effects of 4-nonylphenol contamination on livers of Tilapia fish (Oreochromus spilurs) in Jeddah

Abstract

Alkylphenol polyethoxylates is a group of estrogenic compounds. Natural or synthetic types of these compounds react with the endocrine system by binding hormone receptors, resulting in interference with their action, which is why they are called endocrine disrupting chemicals. Among their hydrolytic products are nonylphenols (NP), which are considered pollutants of aquatic environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pathological alterations on liver tissue of fi sh exposed to these compounds for long durations, starting from beginning of life and during the period of sexual maturity. Tilapia fi sh were obtained from Abhur fi sh farms, reared in the laboratory in special basins, and divided into two groups. The fi rst maternal group was untreated and their larvae were divided into three sub-groups: control; exposed to 15µg/L; and exposed to 30 µg/L. The second maternal group was divided into 2 sub-groups: with larvae exposed to 15µg/L; and with their larvae exposed to 30 µg/L. Larvae and mother exposed to different concentrations of NP (15 and 30 µg/L) showed an increased accumulation of NP in both livers and muscles compared to the control group due to bioaccumulation. Tissue section examinations of the treated group (15 µg NP /L) showed disruption of liver architecture, with lyses, loss of nuclei, necrosis, and fatty infi ltration. The changes were more marked in tissues exposed to (30 µg NP /L). Although this pollution was not lethal, its effect may be refl ected in vital activities and in the economy.

Liver histology and ultrastructure of the Italian newt (Lissotriton italicus): Normal structure and modifications after acute exposure to nonylphenol ethoxylates

“…Our results are consistent with previous findings on the effects of NPs on the hepatic system of rats and fishes (Uguz et al, 2003;Zha et al, 2007;Bhattacharya et al, 2008;Kaptaner and Ünal, 2011;Abdulla Bin-Dohaish, 2012). After exposure to NPE, common ultrastructural alterations observed in L. italicus hepatocytes were: widening of intercellular spaces, RER dilation and fragmentation, mitochondrial swelling and increase of lipid droplets, melanin granules and glycogen content; the severity of these modifications was time-and dose dependent; some of these alterations represent a non-specific response to toxic injury (Meador and Cheville, 2009;Abdulla Bin-Dohaish, 2012).…”

“…The fragmentation of RER has been previously reported after exposure to several xenobiotics (Thophon et al, 2004;Meador and Cheville, 2009); the considerable increase in the number of lipid droplets in the cytoplasm well correlates with RER damage; according to Meador and Cheville (2009), it may result from the reduction of protein synthesis blocking the utilization of lipids for lipid-protein conjugation. Accumulation of fat droplets of different sizes was also reported in Tilapia after exposure to 4-nonylphenol (Abdulla Bin-Dohaish, 2012), and other pollutants such as heavy metals (Thophon et al, 2004). …”

“…After exposure to NPE, common ultrastructural alterations observed in L. italicus hepatocytes were: widening of intercellular spaces, RER dilation and fragmentation, mitochondrial swelling and increase of lipid droplets, melanin granules and glycogen content; the severity of these modifications was time-and dose dependent; some of these alterations represent a non-specific response to toxic injury (Meador and Cheville, 2009;Abdulla Bin-Dohaish, 2012). The appearance of large intercellular spaces and cytoplasm vacuolation resulted in the disturbance of liver architecture that probably follows the loss of structural proteins (Burkitt et al, 1996); also the increase of glycogen granules can interfere with ultrastructure causing the enlargement and disintegration of cytoplasmic organelles (Meador and Cheville, 2009).…”

Histological Assessment of Gonadal Alteration in Wild Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus Inhabiting Lake Manzala, Egypt

“…As reported by other scholars such as Johnson et al (2009), Kosai et al (2011, Sadekarpawar and Parikh (2013), Dhanasekar et al (2018) that due to the dynamic of testes and high cell turnover its more vulnerable to a wide variety of chemical toxicants that elevated the occurrence of intersex in wild fish populations associated with exposure to human wastewater. Furthermore, Bin-Dohaish (2012) and Adeogun et al (2018;2019) mentioned that, synthetic products such as biphenol A, polychlorinated biphenol, dioxins, phtalates, pesticides, heavy metals, alkyphenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, ethinylestradiol and estradiol. Such compounds, among others, that seeping from sewage water to aquatic environments are associated with observation of testis-ova in males and changes in secondary sex characteristics of male and female fish.…”

Determination of Cd, Mn and Ni accumulated in fruits, vegetables and soil in the Thohoyandou town area, South Africa

“…The pH of the composite soil sample was 6.73 indicating that the soil was near neutral pH. Soil acidification has the effect of reducing the supply of nutrients and increasing the dissolution of heavy metals such as Mn and Cd and hence increasing their absorption by plants (Dorraji et al, 2010). The pH of the soil is a critical factor in controlling the bioavailability of trace elements, especially for Cd (Adriano, 2001;Kabata-Pendias and Pendias, 2001).…”