Effects of bisphenol a on hematological, serum biochemical, and histopathological biomarkers in bighead carp ( Aristichthys nobilis ) under long-term exposure

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the highest volume chemicals produced in the world and is frequently used in dental sealants, water bottles, food, and beverage packaging. Due to persistent applications, BPA has become a potential threat to a variety of organisms including public health. In this study, a total of 80 bighead carps were randomly placed in different four groups (A–D). Fish in groups B, C, and D were exposed to BPA @500, 1000, and 1500 μg/L, respectively for 60 days. Fish in group A served as an untreated control group. The body weight was significantly decreased while the absolute and relative weight of different visceral organs increased significantly ( p < 0.05) in fish exposed to higher concentration (1500 μg/L) of BPA. Results on proximate analysis showed significantly lower values of crude proteins, lipids, and moisture contents while increased contents of ash in muscles of treated fish. The erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration, lymphocytes, and monocytes significantly decreased while total leukocyte and neutrophil counts significantly increased in treated fish. Results exhibited that different serum biochemistry parameters like serum albumin and total proteins decreased significantly ( p < 0.05) while alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased significantly ( p < 0.05) in treated fish. Histopathological ailments like pyknosis, degeneration of glomeruli, increased Bowman’s space, ceroid formation in kidneys while ceroid formation, hemorrhages, pyknosis, karyorrhexis, karyolysis, nuclear hypertrophy, and eccentric nuclei were observed in the liver of treated fish. Histological observation of different sections of the brain of treated fish exhibited degeneration of neurons in the cerebellum, lipofuscin deposition, microgliosis, necrotic neurons, inflammatory cells, and hemorrhage. Results on light microscopic observation of different sections of the heart of bighead carp revealed necrosis, inflammatory reaction, neutrophilic myocarditis, and hemorrhages. In conclusion, it is suggested that BPA induces adverse effects on physical, blood-biochemical parameters, and histopathological changes in multiple visceral tissues of exposed fish.