Investigating the effects of ethidium bromide on some hematological parameters in Cyprinus carpio

Ethidium bromide is a mutagenic and carcinogenic substance which is widely used in medical and biology laboratories. Due to the high consumption of this substance in recent years, its solubility in water, stability in environment, entry to aquatic ecosystems and finally its potential effects as an impairing circulatory system, in this study the effects of ethidium bromide on some hematological parameters was examined. In this study, the concentrations of ethidium bromide (20, 30 and 40 mg/100 liter water) were added to the fish aquarium and after 15 days blood sample were taken. Comparing the different experimental groups with control group was performed by ANOWA. The number of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the ethidium bromide groups decreased significantly in comparison with control group (P<0.05). The number of white blood cells in the concentration of 20 mg/100 liter ethidium bromide was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). The number of platelets at the three ethidium bromide concentrations shows significant increase than the control group (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in the concentration of 30 mg/100 liter ethidium bromide was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) and Mean corpuscular Hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in the concentration of 20 mg/100 liter ethidium bromide was significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05). Ethidium bromide as a chemical stressor by altering the number of blood cells, affects the homeostasis of circulatory system. So chronic contamination of aquatic ecosystem by ethidium bromide threaten the aquatic life and ultimately human.