Toxic effects of monocrotophos and glyphosate on the female reproductive organ and aromatase gene expression in climbing perch

Monocrotophos (MCP) and Glyphosate (GLY) are used as an insecticide and herbicide respectively in agricultural fields in India and other developed countries. Since agricultural fields are located close to water bodies, there is a high risk of water contamination by these chemicals with consequent residue accumulation in aquatic biota including fish. The 48 h LC50 was found to be 106 mg/L and 78 mg/L for MCP and GLY respectively. To investigate the effects of these two agrochemicals, the adult climbing perch, Anabas testudineus female fish were treated with 3 concentrations of MCP and GLY for 30 days. The MCP concentrations were 3.5×10^-4% (T1), 5.3×10^-4% (T2), and 10.6×10^-4% (T3) and GLY concentrations were 2.6×10^-4% (T1), 3.9×10^-4% (T2), and 7.8×10^-4% (T3). One group was kept as control. Molecular docking analysis showed that GLY interacted with brain aromatase protein at residues MET424, THR423, PRO479 with a binding energy of −10.685 and with a docking score of −4.769. In the case of MCP, the binding residues were MET424, THR423, and PHE422 ofbrain aromatase with a binding energy of −10.436 with a docking score of −2.824. Similarly, GLYinteracted with ovary aromatase at residues ASN 479, THR477, ASN 230, GLU 226, GLN 483, PRO 484, and GLU 486 with a binding energy of −10.685 and with a docking score of −5.177. In the case of MCP, the binding residues were ASP 312, THR 313, SER 481, and TRP 228 of ovary aromatase with a binding energy of −2.405 and with a docking score of - 3.372. These agrochemicals caused ovarian damage and alteration in gonadosomatic index and cytochrome P450 aromatase gene expression.