1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt
2Unité de Recherche Vigne et Vin de Champagne-EA 4067, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, France
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
*Corresponding author's e-mail: mama200100@gmail.com and address: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Department of Biochemistry, faculty of Veterinary Science. Zagazig university, Egypt
In this study, the induced behavioral changes and neuropathology of prolonged exposure to high doses of Zinc nanoparticles (Zn-NPs) in two species of tilapia, T. nilotica and T. zilli. was investigated. Fish that were treated with 2000 μg Zn-NPs/L showed severe degenerative changes and vacuolation in the neuropil, particularly of the optic tectum, with congestion of the blood vessels of both the cerebral cortex and the meninx primitive. Loss of the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum was noticed as well. Fish showed behavioral changes that included loss of equilibrium, slower movement and swimming sideways. No significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed between T. nilotica and T. zilli in behavioral or pathological changes. The results highlighted the Zn-NPs neurotoxicity and its accompanied neuropathology and related behavioral changes in fish. More caution is needed during the usage of Zn-NPs to avoid possible deleterious impacts on human and animal health.
Behavioral alteration, Nanoparticles, Neuropathology, Tilapia
