Induction of micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities in erythrocytes of mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) following exposure to the pyrethroid insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin

In the present study the induction of micronuclei (MN) and nuclear abnormalities (NA) in erythrocytes of mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) (Baird & Girard 1853) was studied. Fish were exposed to three different concentrations of lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) (1 × 10−4 μg/l, 2 × 10−4 μg/l, 4 × 10−4 μg/l) for periods of 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. NA (notched, lobed, blebbed nuclei), MN, bi-nucleated cells, and the ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) to normochromatic erythrocytes (NCEs) were evaluated to assess genotoxicity and cytotoxicity. LCT significantly induced MN and NA in erythrocytes of G. affinis. The PCE/NCE ratio was also decreased after 24- and 48-h treatments of 4 × 10−4 μg/l LCT. The results show that LCT has genotoxic and cytotoxic potential on G. affinis.