Effects of penconazole and copper nanoparticle fungicides on redbelly tilapia, Coptodon zillii (Gervais, 1848): Reproductive outcomes

Penconazole Copper nanoparticles Antioxidant Histopathology.

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January 14, 2022

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Several effective fungicides have recently been applied, but they can harm ecosystems and non-target organisms. The findings of this study should be helpful to evaluate the reproductive response of redbelly tilapia, Coptodon zillii, of both sexes upon exposure to 0.8 and 1.6 μg/L penconazole and 7.5 and 15 mg/L copper nanoparticle as fungicides for three months. The gonadosomatic index of males increased in the penconazole groups in parallel with testosterone. A significant increase was observed in estradiol and progesterone of penconazole and copper nanoparticle groups. In testicular homogenate, there was a significant decrease in superoxide radical in penconazole (I) and penconazole (II) groups and CAT of penconazole (I) and copper nanoparticle (I) groups, along with a significant increase in nitric oxide (NO) of Cu-NP (II) group. In ovarian homogenate, a significant increase in NO of penconazole (I) group and lipid peroxides of copper nanoparticle (I) group, along with decrease in CAT of penconazole (II) and copper nanoparticle (I) groups and SOD of penconazole (II) and copper nanoparticle (I) groups were found. The histopathological examination indicated gross deteriorations in the gonads of fish exposed to the fungicides except in the copper nanoparticle (II) group. These findings suggested the reproductive burden in C. zillii following exposure to the investigated fungicides by disrupting gonadal sex hormones and inducing redox imbalance and cytopathological abnormalities. It is recommended to reduce the flow of these materials to aquatic areas particularly the natural fisheries and artificial hatcheries.