Histopathological changes in the gill and kidney tissues of Carassius auratus exposed to acrolein

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present study was to examine the histopathological alterations caused by acrolein, an aquatic herbicide, in the gill and kidney tissues of Carassius auratus.

Methodology: The fish were exposed to sublethal concentrations of acrolein (1, 5 and 25 mu g l(-1)) for 96 hr. The gill and kidney tissues were removed, fixed and embedded in paraffin. Histological sections of the treated tissues were investigated by light microscopy and compared with the control group.

Results: Acrolein exposure caused hyperplasia, aneurism, edema, curling and shortened secondary lamellae, epithelial lifting, desquamation, hypertrophied mitochondria-rich cells, dilated central vein, separation of primary lamella epithelium from the cartilaginous tissue and necrosis in the gills. The kidney tissues showed vasodilatation, congestion, enlarged melanomacrophage centers, vacuolization in the renal parenchyma, separation of tubules and collecting ducts from the parenchyma, hyperplasia, vacuolization and deformation in the tubule epithelium, fibrous tissue configuration in the parenchyma and around the collecting duct, hemorrhage, infiltration and necrosis.

Interpretation: Acrolein exposure caused damaging effects on the gill and kidney of goldfish. Alterations in the vital organs probably would affect the metabolic activities and even the survival rate. From the environmental and health protection point, acrolein has to be taken into consideration.