Effect of aflatoxin B1 and sterigmatocystin on DNA repair genes in common carp

•Aflatoxin B1 and sterigmatocystin can stimulate the expression of DNA repair genes.•The expression of OGG1 and p53 showed no significant changes at 8 and 16 h after exposure.•Upregulation was detected by the 24th hour in 0.4 mg AFLATOXIN B1 kg−1 feed and 3 mg STERIGMATOCYSTIN kg−1 feed groups.•An increase in HSP70 gene expression was detected in all groups and all sampling.•A significant decrease in GADD45AA gene expression was observed in the AFLATOXIN B1 group at hour 8. The present study aimed to investigate the short-time (24 h) effect of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and sterigmatocystin (STC) on the expression of hsp70, p53, gadd45, and ogg1 genes in common carp hepatopancreas. Our results showed that aflatoxin B1 and sterigmatocystin can stimulate the expression of DNA repair genes, mainly by hour 24. This significant finding contributes to our understanding of the short-term effects of these mycotoxins on ogg1 genes in common carp hepatopancreas. One-year-old common carp juveniles were randomly distributed into five groups (Control, AFB1 0.4 mg kg−1 feed, STC1 1 mg kg−1 feed, STC2 2 mg kg−1 feed, and STC3 3 mg kg−1 feed). Hepatopancreas samples were collected three times (8, 16, and 24 h) in each group. No significant ogg1 and p53 expression changes were observed at 8 and 16 h after exposure. All measured genes were upregulated by the 24th hour in aflatoxin and STC3 groups. An increase in hsp70 gene expression was detected in all groups and all sampling. A significant decrease in gadd45aa gene expression was observed in the aflatoxin B1 group at hour 8. At hour 16, there was no significant change, while at hour 24, all treated groups were significantly different from the control. In summary, our results suggest that aflatoxin B1 and sterigmatocystin can stimulate the expression of DNA repair genes, mainly by hour 24. Further investigations are needed to get information about DNA damage parallel to the DNA repair mechanisms.