Histological Alterations in The Gill Of Cat Fish, Heteropneustes Fossilis, Exposed to Pentachlorophenol.

Abstract

Present investigation deals with the effect of Pentachlorophenol (PCP) on the histo-architectural changes in gill of a fresh water fish, Heteropneustes fossilis. Fish was exposed to low and high doses of sub lethal concentration (6g and 32g/|/day) of PCP for a period of 21 days. Histological observation exhibited rapid alterations that include detachment of the epithelial linings from the surfaces of the gill filament (primary, PL) and respiratory (secondary, SL) lamellae. In high dose exposure, the gill filaments appeared as a cylindrical solid mass of cells with very little or almost no free surface left on the SL for gaseous exchange. The goblet mucous cells also exhibited fluctuations in their density. The chloride cells showed fluctuation in their number in both doses of exposure. Due to high dose exposure, the neighbouring SL fused together and the entire gills appeared as solid mass. Subsequently, the ladder-like arrangement of the pillar cells-blood capillaries of the gills got collapsed.