Micronuclei and dyskaryosis of erythrocytes and oxidative stress response with endosulfan exposure in topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva

• Genetoxic were measured in peripheral erythrocytes of Pseudorasbora parva exposed to endosulfan.
• Significant positive correlation between erythrocytes micronuclei, dyskaryosis rate and the dose of endosulfan was found.
• Endosulfan is genotoxic to fish.

Endosulfan is a chlorinated and genotoxic insecticide extensively used worldwide in agriculture. However, residues of endosulfan can be detected in farmland soil and natural water. In this study, toxic effects of endosulfan were studied by measuring micronuclei and dyskaryosis in peripheral erythrocytes of topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva). In addition, liver antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid peroxidation level were measured. P. parva were exposed to control and 5 doses (0.12, 0.16, 0.21, 0.31 and 0.62 μg/L) of endosulfan for 48 h and 96 h. The frequencies of micronuclei and dyskaryosis, antioxidant enzyme activity, contents of ROS and lipid peroxidation increased by endosulfan exposure. Compared to controls, frequencies of micronuclei and dyskaryosis were significantly increased with endosulfan exposure, and an obvious dose-response relationship was found. Endosulfan has potential genotoxicity by inducing the oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, which probably lead to the occurrence of micronuclei and dyskaryosis in erythrocytes.