14 lsa - balakrishnan.pdf

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Life Science Archives (LSA)

ISSN: 2454-1354

Volume – 1; Issue - 2; Year – 2015; Page: 90 - 95

© 2015 Published by JPS Scientific Publications Ltd. All rights reserved

Research Article

IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL POLLUTANTS ON THE HISTOPATHOLOGIAL

ALTERATIONS IN THE KIDNEY OF FISH, Lates calcarifer IN UPPANAR

ESTUARY, CUDDALORE

K. Balakrishnan*, P. Ronald Ross, J. Prakash Sahaya Leon and M. Mariappan

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608 002.

Abstract

Histopathological investigations have been recognized as reliable biomarkers of stress in fish, which

may induce considerable damage to the organs. An investigation was carried out in the kidney of Lates

calcarifer inhabiting the Uppanar estuary, Cuddalore, at three different stations with respect to seasons.

Substantially noticeable pathological changes were observed at station II when compared to that of station III

and station I especially during summer season. The findings of this study could be used as a guideline for

biomonitoring the fish populations living in contaminated areas.

Article History Received: 18.05.2015

Revised : 29.03.2015

Accepted: 02.04.2015

Key words: Lates calcarifer, Kidney, Histopathology and Biomonitoring.

1. Introduction

The aquatic ecosystem is threatened more

and more by different sources of pollution that

decrease its economic condition and produces

deleterious effects to human health. Among all

types of pollution, aquatic pollution is of greater

concern as each and every kind of life depends on

water. Therefore management of aquatic

environment in particular has become a major

concern in recent years (Deepak Kasherwani et

al., 2009).Water pollution is the serious menace of

urbanization, industrialization and modern

agricultural practices. Rapid industrialization in

India has resulted into a substantial increase in the

liquid wastes, which are traditionally being

discharged into nearby natural water, causing

number of problems to fauna and flora of aquatic

environment (Samanta et al., 2005). Industrial

* Corresponding author: K. Balakrishnan

Tel.: +91-9443830139

E-mail: [email protected]

pollutants containing toxic and hazardous

substances, including heavy metals like copper,

cadmium, lead, nickel etc., sulphides, ammonia,

chlorides and other salts, in addition to a large

quantity of organic compounds contribute

tremendously to aquatic ecosystem (Woodling et

al., 2001). Heavy metals are natural trace

components of the aquatic environment, but their

levels have been increased due to domestic,

industrial and agricultural activities. It poses

greatest threat to the health of Indian ecosystem

(Desai et al., 2002).

Histopathological changes have been

widely used as biomarkers in the evaluation of the

health of fish exposed to contaminants, both in the

laboratory and field studies (Vander Oostet al.,

2003). One of the great advantages of using

histopathological biomarkers in environmental

monitoring allows to examine the specific target

organs, including gills, kidney and liver, that are

K. Balakrishnan/Life Science Archives (LSA), Volume – 1, Issue – 2, Page – 90 to 95, 2015 91


responsible for vital functions, such as respiration,

excretion and the accumulation and

biotransformation of xenobiotics in the fish

(Gernhoferet al., 2001). The exposure of fish to

pollutants (agricultural, industrial and sewage)

resulted in several pathological alterations in

different tissues of fish (Abbas and Ali, 2007). In

teleosts, the kidney together with the gills are

responsible for excretion and the maintenance of

the homeostasis of the body fluids and producing

urine, act as an excretory route for the metabolites

of xenobiotics. Since, a large volume of blood

flows through the kidney, lesions found in this

organ can be used as signs of environmental

pollution. The effects of pollutants on fish kidneys

have been studied in some species and the severity

of damage observed depends on the sensitivity of

the species to the substances released into the

environment (Pacheco and Santos, 2002). Lates

calcarifer is commonly available in Cuddalore

coasts and also in Uppanar estuary. It is of high

economic importance and is the most preferred

fish meal by the local people. Keeping in view of

the above facts, the present work has been

initiated the impact of industrial pollutants on the

histopathology of kidney in Lates calcarifer.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study area

The present study was carried out in the

Uppanar estuary, which runs behind the SIPCOT

industrial complex, Cuddalore. Uppanar estuary is

a major fishing ground for many kinds of fishes. It

receives industrial effluents from SIPCOT

industrial complex as well as domestic and

municipal sewages from Cuddalore town. Three

sampling stations were selected to study the

impact of industrial effluents on the

histopathology of kidney in Lates calcarifer. The

station I is 10 km upstream, station II is purely

industrial zone and station III is 2 km away from

station II. For interpretation of results samples

were analyzed in all the three stations in four

seasons viz., post monsoon (January to March),

summer (April to June), pre monsoon (July to

September) and monsoon (October to December).

Fig. 1: Location map of study area

2.2. Collection of fish and histological

techniques

Live Lates calcarifer were collected

from the Uppanar estuary at station I, station II

and station III during all the seasons with the help

of local fisher folks. In the field itself, the fish was

dissected and the kidney was quickly removed and

cut into small pieces (approx. 2-4 mm) and fixed

in 5% formaldehyde solution (pH 7.0). After

fixation, the kidney tissue was dehydrated through

ascending grades of ethanol. Then, it was cleared

in xylene and finally embedded in paraffin wax.

Tissue sections were cut at 6 to 8 μm thickness

using a rotary microtome, mounted on clean slides

and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Selected

areas were photographed by using Carlzeiss

photomicroscope III.

3. Result and Discussion

In station I, the kidney showed normal

histoarchitecture in the structure of kidney tubules

and glomeruli during pre monsoon and monsoon

seasons, while during post monsoon and summer

seasons the kidney tubules and glomeruli revealed

slightly altered epithelial cells in the kidney

tubules and glomeruli. The histoarchitecture of

kidney at station II exhibited drastic variations

irrespective of the seasons. The noticed changes

during post monsoon period were degenerated

renal epithelial cells, shrunken glomeruli and

vacuole formation. The recognized changes during

summer period were markedly high and the

noticed variations were swelling of kidney

tubules, shrunken glomeruli, increased interstitial

spaces and tubular necrosis. Similar marked

changes were recognized in the kidney tubules



during pre-monsoon period. While in monsoon

season the kidney tubules revealed very least

alterations. The histoarchitecture of kidney at

station III showed moderate variations in all the

seasons when compared with that of station II and

station I. During post monsoon period the kidney

tubules expressed minor alterations. The

histoarchitectural changes exhibited in the kidney

tubules during summer season were severe

necrosis in the renal tubules, damaged renal

epithelial cells. During pre-monsoon season the

kidney showed shrunken glomeruli and swollen

kidney tubules. While in the monsoon period the

renal tubules did not show significant variations.

Kidney is one of the major organs to

maintain water and ionic balance; moreover renal

tissues receive large volumes of blood flow and

serve as a major route of excretion for metabolites

of various xenobiotics.

The teleostean kidney is generally composed of

several renal corpuscles with well developed

glomeruli and a system of tubules

(PiyanutPeebuaet al., 2006). Thophanet al. (2003)

stated that kidney is one of the major target organs

exposed to toxic contaminants in the water. The

kidney of the fish receives largest proportion of

postbranchial blood, and therefore renal lesions

might be expected to be good indicators of

environmental pollution (Ortiz et al., 2003). In

the present investigation the kidney of

Latescalcariferfrom the Uppanar estuary exhibited

significant changes in the kidney tubules at station

II when compared with that of station III and

station I because of the stoppage of water flow

which might have resulted in the water body to

become more condensed with heavy metals.

During monsoon period the observed damages

were very feeble in all the stations because the

water would have been more diluted by the heavy

rainfall and water flow in river Uppanar.

Fig-2 (a, b, c, d,e & f): Histopathology of the kidney tissues of L. calcarifer collected from the notified stations (I, II and III) of Uppanar estuary during post monsoon and summer seasons (40 µm). G - Glomerulus; KT- Kidney

tubule; HT- Haemopoietic tissue; SKT- Swellon kidney tubule; V- Vacuolization; SG - Shrunken glomerulus;

TN- Tubular necrosis; DEC- Damaged epithelial cell; IS- Increased interstitial space; GN- Glomerular necrosis;

DRE- Degenerated renal epithelium.

\



Fig.3 (g, h, i, j, k & l): Histopathology of the kidney tissues of L. calcarifer collected from the notified stations (I, II and III) of Uppanar estuary during pre monsoon and monsoon seasons(40 µm). G - Glomerulus; KT- Kidney

tubule; HT- Haemopoietic tissue; MMC- Melanomacrophage cell; V- Vacuolization; SG- Shrunken glomerulus;

BC- Bowman’s capsule.

The common observed changes were degeneration of kidney tubules, shrunken

glomeruli, necrosis in the epithelial cells and

elongated kidney tubules. Very similar

observations were made by Thophan et al. (2003)

in Lates calcarifer exposed to cadmium. The

findings of the present investigation in the kidney

of Lates calcarifer agree with Camargo and

Martinez (2007) in a neotropical fish Prochilodus

lineatus in the upper reaches of Cambe stream in

southern Brazil. Studies of Mohamed (2009) in

Tilapia zillii and Solea vulgaris from lake Qarun,

Egypt were also corroborated with the present

study. The study made by Ruqaya et al. (2013) in

the kidney tissues of Schizothor axniger when

exposed to heavy metal contaminants in Dal lake

also supports the present findings. Mohanta et al.

(2010) also observed degeneration of kidney

tubules in Channa punctatus exposed to tannery

effluents. Studies of El- Kasheif et al. (2013) in

Clarias gariepinus inhabiting EL-Rahawy drain,

Egypt also supported the present investigation.

Similar changes were also observed by Abdul

Latiff et al. (2012) in Labeorohita, and Parvathi et

al. (2011) in Cyprinus carpio and Navaraj et al.

(2012) on the effect of tannery effluent on the fish

Oreochromis mossambicus. Athikesavan et al.

(2006) and Bhatkar (2013) reported histopathological abnormalities in the kidney of

Hypophthalmi chthysmolitix and Labeorohita

exposed to nickel respectively. Similarly,

degeneration of glomeruli and swollen kidney

tubule in common carp when exposed to nitrate

was noticed by Iqbal et al. (2004).

4. Conclusion

A multi range of toxic effects of industrial

pollutants have been demonstrated in aquatic

animals. The present study augments well that

histopathological biomarkers of toxicity in fish

organs are useful indicators of environmental

pollution. The organ and tissue damage in the

experimental fish were due to the direct toxicity of

industrial pollutants on the kidney, also the results

showed that the degree of damage of the tissues

was proportional to the station and seasonal

changes.

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