In ovo exposure of F-ions and organo-fluoride insecticide (Bifenthrin) cause developmental anomalies of eye in chick embryos.

Objective: The developmental abnormalities of the in-ovo exposure of Fluoride ions (F-ions) and Bifenthrin (BF) on the embryonic chick eye were investigated. Materials and methods: 165 fresh fertilized eggs of zero day and 40-50 g weight were divided into three groups (55 eggs each) on the basis of inter-vitelline treatment of eggs on zero day of study: 1) Control group (CG); 0.1 ml of 5 % DMSO aqueous solution 2),3) Fluoride group (FG), and Bifenthrin group (BFG); 0.01 mg/kg F-ions (from NaF) and 0.01 mg/kg BF in 0.1 ml of 5 % DMSO aqueous solution respectively. After incubation for 14 days at 37 ± 0.5 °C embryos were externalized. Eyes of each embryo were removed for micro-anatomical, micrometric and histopathological studies. Results: The histological sections have shown denser and enlarged marginal mitotic region of the developing eye lenses in FG and BFG. In vertical sections of the eye lenses the nuclei of the crystalline cells in FG and BFG show a highly depressed bow shaped arrangement. Moreover, the nuclei of the core crystalline cells of the lens were apparently smaller in FG and BFG than CG. Out of the six anatomical layers of the retina the nuclear and the plexiform layers were highly enlarged in FG and BFG, similarly the three corneal cell layers (endothelial, parenchymal and epithelial) were enlarged in FG and BFG than CG. The morphometric, histometric and micrometric estimations also show significant variations in FG and BFG than CG. Conclusion: The results indicate subtle developmental anomalies of the eyes attributable to the F-ions and BF exposure indicating their developmental neuro-optic disruption potentials. Results further revealed higher toxicity of BF as compared to F-ions.