Histopathological effects of contaminated sediments on golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata, Lamarck 1822).

Pomacea canaliculata were exposed experimentally to contaminated sediments from a tributary of the Mae Klong River, Thailand, for 3 months. The highest concentration of Cr, Zn and Fe accumulated in the digestive gland while the gill exhibited the highest concentration of Cu. In addition, histopathological changes (increased mucus vacuoles, loss of cilia, dilation of cells in the epithelial cells of digestive tract organs, and an increase in the number of dark granules in the digestive cells) were observed. The gill exhibited loss of cilia, wider hemolymph space, and degeneration of columnar epithelial cells.

Ultrastructural changes in various organs of the fish Puntius gonionotus fed cadmium-enriched cyanobacteria.

The accumulation and toxicity of cadmium in Puntius gonionotus fish that consumed the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis contaminated with cadmium were studied. Fish were fed cadmium-contaminated cells for 4 weeks, after which cadmium accumulation in various organs was determined. The highest cadmium content was found in the kidney (56.0 microg Cd/g wet weight). Cadmium was not detected in the gill during the entire 4 weeks of cadmium feeding. Histopathological alteration of cells was observed in the gill, kidney, and liver. The results showed that dietary cadmium caused hypertrophy and edema of gill filaments. Coagulative necrosis and karyolysis of the nucleus were observed in the kidney. Vacuoles and hyaline droplets had accumulated in the epithelial cells of the proximal tubule. In the liver vacuolation of the cytoplasm, infiltration of macrophages, and focal necrosis were found. The ultrastructural changes that occurred in the cells of different organs were similar. These included a proliferation of vacuoles and lysosomes, formation of myelin bodies, degranulation, vesiculation, and dilation of rough endoplasmic reticulum, as well as swelling of mitochondria with loss of cristae.