Bisphenol-A Induced Genotoxicity in Channa punctatus (Bloch)

BPA, Bisphenol A is a high volume, synthetic monomer that has been reported in all environmental matrices. Its structural analogy to Diethylstilbestrol, a high risk estrogen mimic, raises concern about its genotoxic potential. This study investigated the genotoxic potential of Bisphenol-A in the snake headed murrel, Channa punctatus. The effect of three sublethal concentrations of Bisphenol A on C. punctatus was studied for two different durations i.e., 15 days and 30 days. Micronucleus assay of peripheral erythrocytes and comet assay of liver cells were used to estimate the genotoxic potential of Bisphenol-A. An increase in micronucleus frequency was observed in all Bisphenol A exposed groups after both durations. Tail DNA% was significantly higher in liver cells following Bisphenol-A exposure. These results suggest that Bisphenol-A exposure probably causes DNA damage due to double strand breaks. This study highlights the genotoxic potential of Bisphenol A. These results also suggest that micronucleus test and comet assay of C. punctatus tissue can be used as useful tool to estimate the exposure of aquatic fauna to ambient genotoxins.