Carbofuran-induced histopathological and biochemical changes in liver of the teleost fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch).

In Channa punctatus exposed to a safe dose (4.5 ppm) of the commercial carbamate pesticide carbofuran for 6 months, from January to June, liver exhibited varying degrees of histopathological changes including cytoplasmolysis, nuclear pyknosis, and necrosis leading to complete exhaustion and disintegration of hepatocytes. In some regions of liver, extensive degeneration of proliferated hepatocytes, in close proximity to blood sinuses, looking like darkly stained debris of hepatomass and induction of tumors were indicative of carcinogenic action of this pesticide which may be attributed to its cumulative toxicity during chronic exposure. Apart from this, the rupturing of blood sinus causing invasive infiltration of leukocytes, and detrimental focal necrosis resulting in the complete dissolution of hepatocytes indicated by the presence of debris mass in the necrotic space can be seen. Moreover, in the liver of experimental fish, corresponding to cellular damage, a significant decrease in hepatosomatic index and ascorbic acid content and an elevation in acid and alkaline phosphatase levels were also recorded. These results suggest that carbofuran is capable of inducing histopathological and biochemical alterations in liver which may cause physiometabolic dysfunction in this species.