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Mercuric chloride induced toxicity responses in the olfactory epithelium of Labeo rohita (HAMILTON): a light and electron microscopy study

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Abstract

Bioaccumulation of mercury and histomorphological changes in the olfactory epithelium of Labeo rohita were investigated after exposing the fish to two sublethal concentrations of HgCl2 (66 and 132 μg/L) for 15 and 30 days. Mercury deposition increased in the tissue significantly (p < 0.05) with dose- and duration-dependent manner. Severe damage to the olfactory epithelium was evident. When fish exposed to 66 μg/L for 15 days, the histology of olfactory epithelium exhibited that mucous cell proliferation was upregulated and cell size was significantly increased from the control. Similar trends were found in 30 days exposure in both treated groups. Histology showed that mercury induced degeneration of columnar sensory cells, supporting cells and ciliated non-sensory cells and induced basal cell proliferation. Basal cell hyperplasia led to form intraepithelial proliferative lesion, thickening of epithelium, basal lamina disruption and cyst formation. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that mercury exposure at 66 μg/L caused clumping and loss of cilia, erosion in microridges on the supporting cells and proliferation of mucous cell opening. Complete degeneration of ciliated cells and cyst formation was observed in the fish when exposed to 132 μg/L HgCl2. This result suggests that prolonged exposure to mercury might cause irreversible damage to the olfactory epithelium and impair the olfactory function of fish.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Head, Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University for the facilities provided. This work was supported by University Grant Commission, New Delhi, through RFSMS Fellowship to DG. Thanks are due to Dr. Anshuman Sarkar, Department of Statistics, Visva-Bharati University for his kind assistance during statistical analysis. The authors appreciate the technical assistance for SEM study to the USIC, Burdwan University and for AAS study to the Metallurgy Department, Jadavpur University.

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  1. Fish Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, 731 235, West Bengal, India

    Debasree Ghosh & Dipak Kumar Mandal

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  1. Debasree Ghosh
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  2. Dipak Kumar Mandal
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Correspondence to Dipak Kumar Mandal.

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Ghosh, D., Mandal, D.K. Mercuric chloride induced toxicity responses in the olfactory epithelium of Labeo rohita (HAMILTON): a light and electron microscopy study. Fish Physiol Biochem 40, 83–92 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-013-9826-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-013-9826-2

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