Periodic Acid - Schiff (PAS) Reaction in Fish Liver Exposed to Fungicide Contamination: A Possible Histochemical Biomarker

The present work aimed to study the negative effects of fungicide contamination on the liver of Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Richardson, 1845) by applying the Periodic acid – Schiff reaction (PAS). The fish were treated with increasing and real applicable pesticide concentrations in agricultureprepared according to the guidelines of the producer for a total acute period of 96 hours. Overall, we found that the intensity of the PAS staining increased proportionally with the increasing of the tested fungicide. Based on the obtained results, we consider that the PAS-staining could be successfully applied as a biomarker in toxicological research. In addition, as fungicide studies are in general less compared to the other pesticide groups, we also consider that these results could be used in future risk assessment and monitoring programs, as well as better agricultural activities.