HEPATOTOXICITY STUDY OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO DI(2-ETHYHEXYL) PHTHALATE (DEHP) IN ZEBRAFISH, DANIO RERIOA.S. DAHIWAL AND R.C. D’SOUZAAbstract Di(2-ethyhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the most widely known phthalate and worldwide the production and application of it is increasing over the last few years. In the present study, the impact of DEHP for acute (96 hours) and chronic (21 days) exposure to concentrations of 80, 140 and 200 ïg/l on liver of zebrafish, Danio rerio. Hepatotoxicity studies involved evaluation of liver function enzymes such as acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) as well as the antioxidant enzyme activities namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-s-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), and peroxidase (POD). Abnormal levels of liver function enzymes and activity of oxidative stress enzymes were reported for both the durations of DEHP treatment. Histopathological observations included loss of hepatic cytoarchitecture, wider sinusoid spaces, hepatocytes with pyknotic nuclei, steatosis, ballooning of hepatocytes, cytoplasmic vacuolization and necrosis. |