Histopathological Alterations in the Kidney of Caspian Kutum, Rutilus frisii kutum, Larvae and Fingerlings Exposed to Sublethal Concentration of Atrazine

Abstract

Abstract The use of chemical pesticides has increased environmental pollution and affected ichthyofauna as non target organisms. In the present study, the histopathological alterations in the larvae and fingerlings of the Caspian kutum, Rutilus frisii kutum, were used as a model to investigate the toxic effects of triazine herbicide, atrazine. To investigate toxic effects of atrazine, fish were exposed to sublethal concentration of 1/2 LC50 for 96 h. Histologically, the most significant alterations in kidney tissues were hyperplasia, necrosis, vacuolation, swelling, hypertrophy, aggregation of hyaline droplets, and disruption of the haematopitic tissue of the head kidney. The damage was more severe in larvae than the fingerlings. Results showed that alterations in kidney tissue caused by atrazine were not specific but it could be concluded that atrazine is excessively toxic for Caspian kutum even at sublethal concentration and acute exposure.