Exposure to different cobalt chloride levels produces oxidative stress and lipidomic changes and affects the liver structure of Cyprinus carpio juveniles.

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the toxic effects of CoCl-induced hepatotoxicity and fatty acid changes in juvenile Cyprinus carpio. Fish were divided into six experimental groups in duplicate. The first group served as controls. The second group received the lowest exposure dose at 2.5 µg/L. In the third group, fish were exposed to 25 µg/L of CoCl. The fourth group was exposed to 50 µg/L of CoCl. The last two groups were exposed to the highest doses, 100 and 500 µg/L of CoCl. Total antioxidant activities were estimated using a colorimetric method. Liver fatty acid compositions were analyzed by high-performance gas chromatography (GC). Hepatopathy was identified through microscopic analysis. Exposure of C. carpio to CoCl resulted in hepatotoxicity, indicated by increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (HO), protein carbonyls (PCO), and alterations in the ferric reducing antioxidant power system (FRAP). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), metallothioneins (MTs), and low thiol levels (L-SH) significantly increased, particularly under exposure to the highest CoCl doses (100 and 500 µg/L). Acetylcholinesterase activity decreased significantly in C. carpio exposed to graded CoCl doses. Additionally, there was a decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), primarily n-3 PUFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), while an increase in monounsaturated (MUFA) and saturated fatty acids (SFA), including palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), palmitoleic (C16:1), and oleic (C18:1) acids, was observed. Histopathological examination of the liver confirmed hepatopathy revealing characteristic tissue changes such as leucocyte infiltration, hepatic cell membrane degradation, vacuolization, and lipid inclusions. The study provided ethnophysiology insights into the responses of C. carpio to CoCl-induced oxidative stress and lipidomic alteration, underscoring its potential as a bioindicator for assessing environmental impacts and metal contamination.