A morphological study of the effect of carbendazim in the ovary of the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Abstract

Carbendazim (Methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate) is widely used as a fungicide on crops and post-harvest produce. The use of this chemical in agriculture contaminates the environment and thus carbendazim enters the food chain of both animals and human. The present study investigated the effect of various dosages of carbendazim on the morphology of the ovarian follicular wall in the Japanese quail. Carbendazim in sunflower oil base was administered at dosages of 25 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg bodyweight. The control group received only the oil base. No  morphological changes were observed at dosages of 25 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg bodyweight. Significant histological and ultrastructural changes were observed at dosages of 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg bodyweight. The observed histological changes were pale cytoplasm, pyknosis, hyparaemia and perivascular cuffing. At ultrastructural level, pyknosis, karyorrhexis, swelling and aggregation of mitochondria, increased number of lysososmes and vacuolation were observed. Rounding of granulosa cells and sloughing of transosomes were evident in vitellogenic follicles. These degenerative changes suggested disruption of cytoskeletal components in ovarian follicular cells.

Key words: carbendazim, morphology, ovary, ovarian follicles,  ultrastructure, Japanese quail