In vivo changes in carbonic anhydrase activity and histopathology of gill and liver tissues after acute exposure to chlorpyrifos in rainbow trout.

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate pesticide widely used in agriculture and aquaculture. This study investigated its effects on carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzyme activity and histopathology of rainbow trout gill and liver. The fish were exposed to 2.25 (25% of 96 h LC50), 4.5 (50% of 96 h LC50), and 6.75 μg L⁻¹ (75% of 96 h LC50) of chlorpyrifos for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. CA activity was measured in liver and gills and histopathological changes were examined by light microscopy. The most common liver changes at most of the chlorpyrifos concentrations were hyperaemia and degenerative changes. Gill tissues were characterised by lamellar hyperaemia, lamellar oedemas, clumping, cellular degeneration, hyperplasia, and lamellar atrophy. CA enzyme activity in the gills decreased at all concentrations at 48, 72, and 96 h after exposure to chlorpyrifos (p<0.05). Similarly, there was a time-dependent decrease in CA activity at all of the concentrations in liver tissues (p<0.05). The present study indicated that chlorpyrifos inhibits CA enzyme activity and causes histopathological damage in gill and liver tissues.