author(s)
Madhu Sharma, Subhash Verma and Pardeep Sharma

abstract
The aim of the present study was to survey the impact of different doses of paracetamol on micronucleus frequency and other morphological deformities of erythrocytes of fish Cyprinus carpio. A total of 18 fish were divided in to three groups. Group A served as control while group B and C were given treatment with 5mg/l and 10 mg/l of paracetamol. Behaviour of the exposed fish was observed. Increase in pigmentation, high breathing rate, surface gulfing was observed in treatment groups. Blood samples were taken the from caudal vein after 7 and 14 days of exposure. Micronucleated cells, Binucleated cells, fragmented DNA, lobed nucleus, notched nucleus were scored under nuclear deformities and cytoplasmic vacuole and karyolysis were considered as cytoplasmic deformities. A significant increase in values of all the nuclear and cytoplasmic deformities have been observed in dose as well as time dependent manner except for karyolysis cells. Highest effect was observed at the highest concentration and at 14 days of exposure. Study showed that paracetamol have genotoxic effect on fish even at low concentration.