Effect of mercuric chloride on the digestive system of Channa punctatus: a histopathological study

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(78)90161-5· OSTI ID:6503130

Sastry, K V; Gupta, P K

The effect of LD/sub 50/ (1.8 mg/liter) and a sublethal concentration (0.3 mg/liter) of mercuric chloride on the digestive system of a teleost fish, Channa punctatus, has been studied at intervals of 96 hr and 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 days. The results show that drastic changes are produced in the histological structure of the liver. These include liver cord disarray, connective tissue damage, granulation and vacuolation of the cytoplasm and hypertrophy of the nucleus, necrosis, fatty infiltration, proliferation of connective tissue, glycogen depletion, and cirrhosis. In the digestive system, treatment produced more drastic changes, especially between 15 and 30 days of treatment. The gastric gland cells showed a decrease in pepsinogen granules, followed by degeneration of the entire cells. Pyloric caeca were the most affected portion of the alimentary canal. The villi in this organ and in the intestine were ruptured. Lateral cell boundaries had disintegrated, and cells presented a syncytial appearance. Inflammatory cells collected at a number of places in the mucosa. In the intestine, initially, a hyperactivity of mucus secreting goblet cells was observed. This was followed by release of large amount of mucus into the intestinal lumen. No conspicuous change was observed in the rectal portion.

• Research Organization: D.A.V. (P.G.) College, Muzaffarnagar, India
• OSTI ID: 6503130
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 16; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550900 -- Pathology
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
CYTOPLASM
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISEASES
DISEASES
DOSES
ENZYMES
FISHES
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GLANDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HISTOLOGY
HYDROLASES
HYPERTROPHY
INTESTINES
LETHAL DOSES
LIVER
LIVER CIRRHOSIS
MERCURY CHLORIDES
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
MUCOUS MEMBRANES
NECROSIS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PATHOLOGY
PEPSIN
PEPTIDE HYDROLASES
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES