Glyphosate induced nucleic acid alterations in freshwater fish, Catla catla

Abstract

The freshwater fish, Catla catla were exposed to lethal and sub-lethal concentrations of  glyphosate (glycil SL 41%) to study the alterations in the nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) content  of various tissues (gill,  brain, liver, kidney and muscle) after exposure to 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC₅₀. In static method the LC₅₀ values were found to be 6.622, 6.546, 6.05 and 5.798 mg/L respectively for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h and in continuous flow-through system the LC₅₀ values were 5.759, 5.374, 5.249 and 5.191 mg/L respectively for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h.  In both the methods the LC₅₀ values showed decreased trend with time of exposure and the decrease is more in continuous flow through method than in static method. A decline in the DNA and RNA content was observed and the percentage decrease is more apparent at lethal concentrations than at sub-lethal concentrations.