A study on the toxicological effects of tramadol on rohu Labeo rohita
摘要
Tramadol, a widely used synthetic opioid analgesic, poses emerging threats to aquatic ecosystems. The present research evaluated the toxicological impacts of tramadol on rohu (Labeo rohita). A total of 150 healthy L. rohita (length: 20 ± 5 cm; weight: 14 ± 0.5 g) were exposed to low (1.25 mg/L) and high (2.5 mg/L) concentrations of tramadol for 25 days. Hematological analysis revealed significantly increased white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinocytes (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001), alongside decreased red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit (P < 0.01 to P < 0.001) in tramadol-exposed fish compared to controls. Biochemical analysis showed elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total protein, globulin, glucose, thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone, urea, and blood urea nitrogen (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001), while low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, and albumin decreased significantly (P < 0.01). A significant increase in triiodothyronine (T3) was also observed (P < 0.001). Histopathological examination revealed dose-dependent abnormalities including gill lamellar aneurism, edema, and fusion of primary lamellae; hepatocyte nuclear degeneration, necrosis, and sinusoidal dilation; and renal melanomacrophage accumulation, tubular cell hypertrophy, and glomerular expansion. These findings demonstrate that sub-chronic tramadol exposure induces multi-system toxicity in L. rohita, highlighting the need for monitoring pharmaceutical contaminants in aquatic ecosystems.