TOXIC EFFECTS OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER ON SERUM PROTEINS AND TISSUE HISTOPATHOLOGY IN TRANSCAUCASIAN BARB, CAPOETA CAPOETA (GULDENSTTEADT 1773)

Abstract

In this study, the effects of nitrogen fertilizer (NH₄NO₃ + CaMg (CO₃)₂) on Capoeta capoeta (Guldensteadt, 1773) were studied with electrophoretic and histopathological methods. The fish caught from Kars Creek (TURKEY) were put into 300 liters tanks and they were enabled to adapt to the medium for 10 days. Then they were divided into 3 groups. The fish in the 1^st group were held in normal water, 2^nd and 3^rd groups were held in the water containing 15 mg/L and 30 mg/L nitrogen fertilizer respectively for 15 days. At the end of this period, blood and tissue samples were taken from the fish for electrophoresis and histopathological examination. Serum samples obtained were carried out in Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Tissue samples were fixed in %10 formaldehyde solution, and paraffin blocks were prepared by routine histological methods and section 3-5 µ thickness were performed and all of the sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin method and investigated under light microscope. In SDS-PAGE of serum proteins, new protein expression as well as thinning and thickness in various protein bands of fish applied nitrogen fertilizer were observed.

In histopathological examination, increasing levels of degeneration, necrosis and mononuclear cell infiltration were observed in the tissues of the liver, intestine, gill and kidney tissues of experimental fish groups in proportion with the increasing of dose.

It is concluded that contamination of nitrogen fertilizer in aquatic environments can have harmful effects on fish.

Keywords

• nitrogen fertilizer,Capoeta capoeta,serum protein,SDS-PAGE,histopathology

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