One-tenth dose of LC50 of 4-tert-butylphenol causes endocrine disruption and metabolic changes in Cyprinus carpio

• Published in: Pesticide biochemistry and physiology Vol. 86; no. 3; pp. 172 - 179
• Main Authors: Barse, A.V, Chakrabarti, T, Ghosh, T.K, Pal, A.K, Jadhao, S.B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier 01-11-2006
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; carp; Cyprinus carpio; dose response; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; endocrine-disrupting chemicals; enzyme activity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; histology; lethal concentration 50; nonionic surfactants; phenols; physiological response; vitellogenin; Edible fish; Somatic index; Toxicity; Liver; Surfactant; Testicle; Vitellogenin; Chemical product; Endocrine secretion; Freshwater environment; Aquatic environment; Enzymatic activity; Pisces; Cyprinus carpio; Dose; Xenobiotic; Organic compounds; Somatic indices; Non ionic surfactant; Biochemical compound; Glycoprotein; Endocrine disruption; Histology; Metabolism; Protein; Vertebrata; Lethal concentration; 4-tert-Butylphenol; Phenols; Poison; Disruption; Gonadosomatic index
• ISSN: 0048-3575; 1095-9939
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2006.03.006

Of the huge annual worldwide production (500,000 MT in 1997) of alkylphenol polyethoxylates (APEs) that are widely used as nonionic surfactants and anti-oxidants in variety of products, 60% ends up in water bodies. They undergo biodegradation to form octyl-, butyl-, and nonyl-phenols. This experiment evaluated effects of 4-tert-butyl phenol (4-TBP) in Cyprinus carpio, a projected candidate species in sewage fed fisheries. The 96th h LC50 of 4-TBP was found to be 6.9 mg/L. Fishes were treated with 1/10th (0.69 mg/L), 1/5th (1.38 mg/L), and 1/3rd (2.3 mg/L) dose of LC50. Whereas there was significant (P < 0.01) decrease in alkaline phosphatase [EC 3.1.3.1] and aspartate aminotransferase [EC 2.6.1.1] activity; alanine aminotranferase [EC 2.6.1.2] and acid phosphatase [3.1.3.2] (except decrease at 1/10th dose of LC50) activity, vitellogenin production in muscle and hepatic- and reno-somatic indices were increased compared to control. With all the dose levels tested, testicular-somatic index (testis size) was reduced (P < 0.01) and histo-architectural changes in testicular and liver tissue were found even in group given 1/3rd dose of LC50.