Acute effects evaluation of HgCl2 on epidermis of Trichomycterus brasiliensis (Siluroidei; trichomycteridae)

The effects of HgCl2 on the epidermis of Trichomycterus brasiliensis were studied by histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural methods. First, the normal organization of the tissue was described in order to study the HgCl2 effects on the skin structure. The epithelial cells presented a typica...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEcotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 260 - 266
Main Authors Oliveira Ribeiro, C A, Torres, R F
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Netherlands 01.12.1995
Subjects
Animals
Disinfectants - toxicity
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Epidermis - cytology
Epidermis - drug effects
Epidermis - ultrastructure
Epithelial Cells
Epithelium - drug effects
Epithelium - ultrastructure
Fishes
Fresh Water - chemistry
Lethal Dose 50
Lymphocyte Count - drug effects
Mercuric Chloride - toxicity
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Skin - cytology
Skin - drug effects
Skin - ultrastructure
T-Lymphocytes - cytology
T-Lymphocytes - drug effects
Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
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Summary:The effects of HgCl2 on the epidermis of Trichomycterus brasiliensis were studied by histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural methods. First, the normal organization of the tissue was described in order to study the HgCl2 effects on the skin structure. The epithelial cells presented a typical structural organization found in many fishes. Basically five types of cells could be detailed: goblet cells, club cells, germinative stratum cells, intermediate layer cells, and epithelial cells in the superficial layer. The goblet cells in the superficial layer present evidence of secretory activity by positive histochemical reactions. In cells exposed to HgCl2, different morphological alterations were observed in the epithelium structure, such as an increase in the lymphocyte number, hypertrophied epithelial cells at the surface, modified taste buds, obstruction of the goblet cells pore, and high cellular proliferation. Moreover, the chemical nature of the goblet cells was not modified by the presence of the HgCl2 dissolved in water. All animals died within 24 hr after the contamination with inorganic mercury at concentrations of 0.2 and 0.1 mg HgCl2/liter.
ISSN:0147-6513
DOI:10.1006/eesa.1995.1112