Study of iron bioaccumulation and histopathology of muscle, skin and scale of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) following exposed to iron oxide nanoparticles

Increasing development of nanotechnology and the production of nanostructured materials have led to many nanoparticles enter into the environment. Iron oxide nanoparticles are one of the most widely used nanomaterial that their widespread application has been accompanied with concern. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the iron bioaccumulation and histopathology in the muscle, skin and scales of common carp following exposure to iron oxide nanoparticles. In this study, common carp fish were exposed to 0, 50, 75 and 100 mg/L iron oxide nanoparticles in 4 groups, respectively. On days 14, 21 and 28 of the experiment, fish were randomly selected and muscle, skin and scales tissues were dissected, and the iron bioaccumulation in the tissues as well as histopathology was investigated. In this study, the concentration of iron in the scale> skin> muscle and the Iron concentration in scales and skin tissues were significantly than muscle tissue (p <0.05). The most tissue damages were observed on day 28 and group 4 in the form of epithelial cell hyperplasia, increase of goblet cells, infiltration of inflammatory cells and destruction of epithelial tissue in the skin tissue, and destruction of muscle fiber, infiltration of inflammatory cells, increase in melanomacrophage centers and hyaline degeneration in muscle tissue. It can be concluded, the bioaccumulation of iron in skin and scale tissues was higher compared to muscle tissue. Also, the histopathology was directly related to the concentration and duration of exposure to iron oxide nanoparticles.