Gill Cellular Changes Induced by Copper Exposure in the South American Tropical Freshwater Fish Prochilodus scrofa

doi:10.1006/enrs.2001.4315

Environmental Research

Volume 88, Issue 1, January 2002, Pages 52-63

https://doi.org/10.1006/enrs.2001.4315 Get rights and content

Abstract

The cellular changes in gill tissue induced by exposure to copper were studied in the tropical freshwater fish Prochilodus scrofa, with emphasis on chloride and pavement cells. Damage to gills included epithelial changes such as lifting, rupture, peeling of lamellar epithelium, lamellar fusion, hyperplasia, and cellular hypertrophy. Cell degeneration by necrosis and apoptosis was intense in fish exposed to 25 and 29 μg Cu L−1. Pavement cells showed microridge reduction on their surface. Chloride cells proliferated in the lamellar epithelia close to the onset of the lamellae. However, no changes in total chloride cell density in contact with the water were observed. The chloride cell apical area of fish exposed to copper increased, but only fish exposed to 25 μg Cu L−1 showed significant increase in the chloride cell fractional area. At this water copper concentration, almost 60% of the chloride cells were apoptotic. Necrotic chloride cells increased with copper in water, reaching 70% in fish exposed to 29 μg Cu L−1 (=LC₅₀ calculated for this species). Pavement and chloride cell proliferation and hypertrophy on lamellar epithelia increased the thickness of the water–blood barrier. Our findings suggest severe impairment of ion regulation and gas transfer of fish exposed to copper.

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Regular ArticleGill Cellular Changes Induced by Copper Exposure in the South American Tropical Freshwater Fish Prochilodus scrofa

Abstract

Aquat. Toxicol.

Aquat. Toxicol.

Toxicol. Lett.

Environ. Pollut.

Aquatic Toxicol.

Int. Rev. Cytol.

Histomorphological changes in some organs of the brown bullhead, Ictalurus nebulosus Le Sueur, following short and long-term exposure to copper

J. Fish Biol.

Branchial chloride cell proliferation in the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss: Implications for gas transfer

Can J. Zool.

The metallothionein response in gills of Oreochromis mossambicus exposed to copper in fresh water

Am. J. Physiol.

Effects of copper on cortisol receptor and metallothionein expression in gills of Oncorhynchus mykiss

Aquat. Toxicol.

Zinc binding to the gills of rainbow trout: The effect of long-term exposure to sublethal zinc

J. Fish. Biol.

Gill morphology during hypercapnia in brown bulhead (Ictalurus nebulosus): Role of chloride cells and pavement cells in acid-base regulation

J. Fish Biol.

Some new, simple and efficient stereological methods and their use in pathological research and diagnosis

APMIS

Water Pollution and Fish Physiology

A comparative study of the ultrastructure of the water–blood pathway in the secondary lamellae of teleost and elasmobranch fishes—Benthic forms

Z. Zellforsch.

Cellular responses of the skin and changes in plasma cortisol levels of trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to acidified water

Cell Tissue Res.

Aluminum dynamics on gills of Atlantic salmon fry in the presence of citrate and effects on integrity of gill structures

Aquat. Toxicol.

Regular Article
Gill Cellular Changes Induced by Copper Exposure in the South American Tropical Freshwater Fish Prochilodus scrofa