Genotoxic effects in blood cells of sturger (Acipenseridae) grown in conditions of cage farming of the Volga delta, Russia

The purpose of this work was to assess the degree of genotoxic influence of the habitat on individuals of Russian sturgeon and sterlet raised in cage farming conditions in the Volga delta, using micronucleus and DNA comet tests.The blood of the individual Russian sturgeon and sterlet was shaved off during their lifetime. A comet DNA test was performed using the alkaline method. The number of erythrocytes with micronuclei was determined microscopically. To assess the physiological state of sturgeons, conventional hematological and biochemical methods were used.In the samples of fish blood smears studied, the average proportion of erythrocytes with micronuclei was 3.20 ± 1.24 ‰ in Russian sturgeon and 5.25 ± 1.18 ‰ in sterlet. The proportion of DNA in the comet tail in erythrocytes of Russian sturgeon was 3,99 %, and in sterlet 6, 48 %. The values of tail moment and Olivet moment were also lower in Russian sturgeon. Among sterlet erythrocytes, a more heterogeneous pattern of DNA damage can be noted. The length of the comet tail in starlet individuals turned out to be lower than in Russian sturgeon: apparently, larger fragments of these molecules were formed when the DNA of starlet erythrocytes was damaged. The physiological state of sterlet individuals can be characterised as normal, and that of the Russian sturgeon as satisfactory, due to the deviations identified in the values of some hematological and biochemical blood parameters.Having studied the influence of the environment on individual sturgeon kept in cage aquaculture conditions in the Volga delta using micronuclear and DNA comet tests, we can conclude that there was no acute genotoxic effect at the time of the study.