Assessment of Genetic Biomarkers with Special Reference to Micronucleated and Binucleated Erythrocytes in Two Fish Species Grown at Industrial Vicinity of Thermal Power Plants, Kolkata, India

Assessment of biological marker at gene level in fish, micronucleus test as well as the study of abnormal shape of nucleus is a suitable measure, in which the presence or absence of genotoxins can be detected in water. In this study, frequencies of micronucleated (MN) and binucleated (BN) erythrocytes were scored in gill (peripheral) and kidney (renal) blood of two fishes, Labeo bata and Oreochromis mossambica inhabited in the pond located at industrial vicinity of thermal power plant, Kolkata, India. Two experimental sites were chosen, which were compared with pond located in non-industrial vicinity (far away from this area) as control area. Highly significant differences (P<0.001) were noticed for MN frequencies in gill and kidney erythrocytes of experimental fishes, where kidney erythrocytes showed increased value than gill erythrocytes. The comparison between gill and kidney erythrocytes also showed highly significant differences (P<0.001). The frequencies of BN were also counted separately for gill and kidney erythrocytes, in which significantly increased values (P<0.001) were obtained in comparison to control populations. These results confirmed that micronucleation and binucleation in erythrocytes of fish could provide valuable information regarding water quality status and also the health risk as biomarkers at genetic level of particular test models.