title: Sublethal effects of monocrotophos on locomotor behavior and gill architecture of the mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis.
abstract: Subacute studies of monocrotophos [Dimethyl (E)-1-methyl-2-(methyl-carbamoyl) vinyl phosphate] on mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis, were carried out in vivo for 24 days to assess the locomotor behavior, structural integrity of gill, and targeted enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC: 3.1.1.7) interactions. Monocrotophos (MCP) can be rated as moderately toxic to G. affinis, with a median lethal concentration (LC(50)) of 20.49 +/- 2.45 mgL(-1). The fish exposed to sublethal concentration of LC(10) (7.74 mgL(-1)) were under stress and altered their locomotor behavior, such as distance traveled per unit time (m min(-1)) and swimming speed (cm sec(-1)) with respect to the length of exposure. Inhibition in the activity of brain AChE and deformities in the primary and secondary lamellae of gill may have resulted in failure of exchange of gases. The maximum inhibition of 95% of AChE activity was observed on days 20 and 24. Morphological aberrations in the gills were also studied during exposure to the sublethal concentration of monocrotophos for a period ranging from 8 to 24 days. The extent of damage in gill was dependent on the duration of exposure. The findings revealed that inhibition in brain AChE activity and structural alteration in gill were responsible for altering the locomotor behavior of exposed fish.
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Unit, Biology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, India. jv@iict.res.in
authors.forename: J Venkateswara
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Ghousia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Begum
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sridhar
authors.forename: N Chakra
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D003532:Cyprinodontiformes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005880:Gills / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects*; D008999:Monocrotophos / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007306:Insecticides; D008999:Monocrotophos; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase