Neurobehavioral, apoptotic, and DNA damaging effects of Sub-chronic profenofos exposure on the brain tissue of Cyprinus carpio L.: Antagonistic role of Geranium essential oil

Abstract Currently, the contamination of water with different insecticides like profenofos (PFF) is a critical concern in the aquatic ecosystem. There are limited studies available on the negative impacts of PFF on common carp fish (Cyprinus carpio L.). Therefore, the existing study was designed to investigate the effect of PFF exposure (1/10 of the 96 h-LC50) on the neurobehavior, growth performance, chemical composition, oxidative status, DNA damage, apoptotic status and histological indices of the brain and gill tissues. In addition, this study seeks to detect the ability of geranium essential oil (GEO) dietary supplementation to mitigate the negative impacts of PFF. Accordingly, a total of 120 healthy fish were divided into four groups: the control group, fed on basal diet only; the other groups were fed on a basal diet supplemented with 400 mg kg–1 GEO, basal diet and PFF in water (PFF group), and supplemented diet with GEO and PFF in water (GEO + PFF), respectively, for 60 days. The results showed that PFF significantly reduced fish growth performance, crude protein, and lipid contents. It caused several behavioral alterations including spiral movement, decreased activeness, and changes in feeding behavior. Moreover, PFF increased the DNA tail length, tail moment, and the level of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine. Histologically, PFF induced a wide array of circulatory, inflammatory, regressive and progressive alterations in the brain and gill tissues. PFF significantly downregulated Bcl-2 and upregulated caspase-3 immuno-expression in both organs. Further, it considerably depleted the antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. The GEO supplementation did not reach the respective control values but markedly improved most of the behavioral, physical, biochemical, oxidative, apoptotic, and inflammatory markers, altered by PFF exposure. It also protected the gill and brain tissues from the branchial and encephalopathic effects of PFF. These findings suggest that GEO dietary supplements could be advantageous for mitigating PFF negative impacts and presenting a promising feed additive for common carp in aquaculture.