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Assessment of reproductive toxicity of carbofuran and copper sulfate in male Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

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Abstract

This study’s hypothesis is that carbofuran and copper sulfate have a synergistic harmful impact on the fertility of male Nile tilapia. Hence, this study was designed to assess the toxic reproductive outcome of carbofuran, copper sulfate, and their mixture in male Nile tilapia. Sixty male Nile tilapia fishes were separated into four groups (15 fish/group). The control group; carbofuran group, was given dechlorinated tap water containing 0.02 mg/L (1/10 dose of LC50) carbofuran; copper group was given dechlorinated tap water containing 4.0 mg/L (1/10 dose of LC50) copper sulfate; carbofuran + copper sulfate group received dechlorinated tap water containing 0.02 mg/L carbofuran plus 4.0 mg/L copper sulfate. After 6 weeks, results revealed a significant rise in testicular malondialdehyde levels and a significant decrease in testicular reduced glutathione contents among all experimental groups compared to the control group. Testicular testosterone levels were significantly declined in copper and combined groups compared to the control. The seminal evaluation using computer-assisted sperm analysis showed a significant decline in the progressive motility percentage, motile ratio percentage, sperm concentration, curvilinear velocity, straight-line velocity, average path velocity, and wobble in all intoxicated groups, particularly, the combined group. The histopathology of testes in all intoxicated groups revealed a detachment of the basal membrane of some seminiferous tubules, and others were free from spermatogonia and spermatozoa with interstitial eosinophilic granular cell infiltration. Testicular lesions were more severe in the combined group. Finally, it was concluded that carbofuran and copper sulfate exerted a negative effect on the reproductive function of male Nile tilapia, and they have a synergistic harmful impact on the fertility of male Nile tilapia.

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Acknowledgements

We would thank Professor Dr. Mahmoud M. A. Elmaghraby for performing the statistical analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Edfina-Behera, 22758, Egypt

    Samah S. Oda, El-Sayed M. El-Manakhly, Mohamed A. Abou-Srag & Hossam G. Tohamy

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  1. Samah S. Oda
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  2. El-Sayed M. El-Manakhly
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  3. Mohamed A. Abou-Srag
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  4. Hossam G. Tohamy
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Contributions

Conceptualization and methodology: Tohamy HG and Abou-Srag MA. Investigation and data collection were performed by Abou-Srag MA, Oda SS, and Tohamy HG. Figures were made by Tohamy HG. Oda SS and Tohamy HG wrote the manuscript. The supervision was by El-Manakhly EM. All the authors read and agreed the final manuscript. Oda SS is the corresponding author.

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Correspondence to Samah S. Oda.

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Oda, S.S., El-Manakhly, ES.M., Abou-Srag, M.A. et al. Assessment of reproductive toxicity of carbofuran and copper sulfate in male Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 15896–15904 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16965-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16965-x

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