Shift in cytoarchitecture of immunocytes of mudcrab exposed to arsenic.

ABSTRACT

Estuarine mudcrab, Scylla serrata is an economically important species and inhabitant of Sundarban ecosystem. This intertidal species is under constant exposure of diverse xenobiotics including toxic metalloid arsenic. Arsenic, being a major environmental contaminant of selected districts of the state of West Bengal poses a serious toxicological threat to this edible species. Toxicity of arsenic was investigated in the cytoarchitecture of hemocyte of S. serrata by exposing the animals to the sublethal concentrations of 1, 2 and 3 ppm sodium arsenite for a maximum period of 30 days in controlled laboratory conditions. Arsenic induced hemocytic disruption in relation to shape, size of cell and nuclear morphology is indicative to possible dysfunction of blood cell. Blood cells or hemocytes are reported as chief immunoeffector cells of invertebrates and are capable of performing multiple immunological functions including nonself adhesion, aggregation, phagocytosis and generation of cytotoxic agents. The toxic exposure may impaired or altered the innate immune response of hemocyte of the animal that may lead to decline of this economically important species in Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve. This study would help to be selected S. serrata as bioindicator species and also formulate sustainable strategy of conservation of this important species inhabiting the biologically unsafe habitat of Sundarbans.