In-vitro genotoxic effects of cadmium in tilapia fingerlings (Oreochromis niloticus)

Abstract

The ultimate aim of this study is to determine the genotoxic effect which takes place in aquatic organisms following exposure of heavy metal. 0. niloticus fingerlings (2.5 cm ± 0.5) was exposed for a period of 21 days to various sub-lethal Cadmium concentrations (0.4683 ppm, 0.9366 ppm, 1.8552 ppm and 2.8098 ppm), designed from 96-h LC50 value ( 4.688 ppm) which was obtained from 96 hours acute toxicity test. The exposed fingerlings were harvested at each 7days for determination of Cadmium concentration in different body parts as well as determination of Cadmium induced genotoxic effect on fingerlings. Detection through ICP-MS indicated that significant mean difference for cadmium concentrations were found in gills, muscle and viscera only for exposure concentrations 1.8552 ppm and 2.8098 ppm when compared to control at all time intervals. However significant differences were found in whole body of every fingerling treated in all the exposure concentrations at all time intervals.