The cytogenetic effects of acrylamide on Carassius auratus periperial blood cells

•Acrylamide in water induces genotoxicity in goldfish periperial blood cells.•Frequency of nuclear anomalies increased in microscopy assay.•Nuclear tail DNA intensity increased in comet assay.

The cytogenetic effects of acrylamide on golden fish Carassius auratus peripheral blood cells were investigated in vivo. The fish were exposed to 5, 10, and 20 mg/L acrylamide in water for 96 h. Following exposure, peripheral blood samples were obtained to assay for nuclear anomalies and DNA damage. Acrylamide induced micronuclei and other nuclear anomalies including binuclei, nucleoplasm-bridged nuclei, and nuclear buds. The frequencies of these nuclear anomalies were significantly higher after treatment with 10 and 20 mg/L acrylamide (p < 0.05). DNA damage was assayed using the alkaline comet assay. Both olive tail moment and the percentage of tail DNA intensity significantly increased after treatment with 20 mg/L acrylamide (p < 0.05). In conclusion, acrylamide induces obvious genotoxicity in C. auratus peripheral blood cells.