Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ecoenv Impact of pyrethroids and organochlorine pesticides residue on IGF-1 and CYP1A genes expression and muscle protein patterns of cultured Mugil capito Afaf.Abd El Megid a , Mohammad E. Abd Al Fatah a , Amel El Asely b , Yakout El Senosi a , Mahmoud M.A. Moustafa c , Mahmoud A.O. Dawood d,* a Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Egypt b Department of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Egypt c Department of Genetics and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Egypt d Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Kaferelshiekh University, Kaferelshiekh, Egypt ARTICLE INFO Keywords: Mugil capito Pesticides Biochemical markers IGF-1 CYP1A Gene expression SDS-PAGE ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the levels of pyrethroids and organochlorine residues in the tissues of cultured Mugil capito and in water samples obtained from three different sites (Al-Hamol, Al-Riad and Sidi Salem; referred to as Area 1, Area 2, and Area 3, respectively) in the Delta region, Egypt. The study also assessed the biochemical markers in exposed mullet and evaluated the impact of these residues on the expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in muscle and cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) in liver tissues using qRT-PCR and SDS-PAGE methods. The results revealed that pesticide residue levels in the water were variable, but were lower than detected levels in fish. Significant (P < 0.05) differences were found across the three study areas in terms of serum ALT, but the serum AST level was not significantly (P > 0.05) elevated in all study regions. Serum creatinine and urea levels were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated in area 3. Furthermore, glutathione and malondialdehyde concentrations significantly increased (P < 0.05) in liver tissues in area 3. Using the qRT-PCR technique, the results revealed that the expression level of IGF-1 was most significant in area 3, while the expression level of CYP1A was most significant in area 1. The protein profile showed some differences in band numbers and molecular weights of protein bands across different regions. Overall, the alteration in biochemical parameters revealed pesticide interference with the metabolic processes of fish. Furthermore, the pesticide pollution had an effect on the expression of IGF-1 and CYP1A genes and led to changes in the protein profile. Therefore, these markers can be used to monitor fish distress following exposure to the pollutant. 1. Introduction For centuries, pesticides have been used in agriculture to increase the production of high-quality crops by controlling disease-causing pests. Recently, their use is increasing used worldwide, and this is more pronounced in the developing nations (including Egypt) (Abdelkhalek et al., 2017). Pesticides, such as organochlorine and pyrethroids, are used in agriculture, medicine, and industry. The widespread use of pesticides has a negative effect on the environment, particularly in water. Drainage of pesticides from fields into water canals can easily contaminate the water ecosystem. Moreover, it is well-known that aquatic animals and fish may uptake these compounds present in drainage water and in phytoplankton, leading to bioaccumulation (Arnot and Gobas, 2004). Fish are a bio-indicator of environmental contamination, as pesticides may cause many physiological and biochemical changes in- fluencing the activities of several enzymes and metabolites (Mukesh, 2013). Even low exposure to pesticides has adverse biological effects (Hernandez et al., 2006). Mullet is a very important marine fish and exists in both fresh and brackish water. Mugil capito constitute the majority of the aquaculture Mugil sp. Harvest in Egypt due to the availability and abundance of wild fry (Sadek and Mires, 2000). Moreover, it is an extremely opportunistic feeder and feeds on any accessible food (El-Dahhar et al., 2013). Enzyme analysis can provide much information about the health status of fish and can also be used as a tool to assess environmental pollution (Abdelkhalek et al., 2017; Elahee and Bhagwant, 2007; Rao, 2006). Thus, we can expect to see it as an early warning of pesticide toxicity (Dutta and Arends, 2003). Many studies in the field illustrate the presence of changes in the enzyme activities of the organs and blood https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109876 Received 29 April 2019; Received in revised form 16 October 2019; Accepted 25 October 2019 * Corresponding author. Animal Production Department, Kafrelsheikh, 33516, Egypt. E-mail address: mahmoud.dawood@agr.kfs.edu.eg (M.A.O. Dawood). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 188 (2020) 109876 0147-6513/ © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. T