Liver alterations in Oreochromis niloticus (Pisces) induced by insecticide imidacloprid: Histopathology and heat shock protein in situ localization

Liver is very sensitive to environmental contaminants such as pesticides, it being the first target of toxicity of a substance. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible effects of the insecticide imidacloprid (IMI) on the liver of Oreochromis niloticus according concentrations used for growing sugarcane. A semi-quantitative analysis of histopathological alterations of IMI on liver was performed by light microscopy and cellular labeling of heat shock proteins (HSP70) by immunohistochemistry. The most common changes in liver at all concentrations of IMI were hydropic degeneration, pyknotic nuclei, and loss of cell limits. Steatosis and increased levels of HSP70 were detected in hepatocytes with the highest concentration of IMI. In conclusion, the tested concentrations of IMI induced histopathological changes in the liver of O. niloticus and active defence mechanisms to maintain the morphophysiological integrity of the liver. This insecticide has a toxicity potential for these fish, which is a non-target organism of its action.     

Histological and histochemical alterations induced by lead in the liver of the quail Coturnix coturnix

Adult males of the quail Coturnix coturnix were exposed to lead acetate trihydrate in drinking water (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1% for one–six months) to investigate histological and histochemical alterations induced by lead intoxication in the liver. Chronic exposure to subtoxic concentrations of lead produced changes in hepatocytes, portal veins, Kupffer cells, and blood sinusoids. Alterations in hepatocytes mainly involved cytoplasmic vacuolation, necrosis, cytolysis, and glycogen accumulation. Kupffer cell hyperplasia, hemosiderosis, blood sinusoidal dilatation, portal vein congestion, and edema were also observed. No fibrosis or cirrhosis in the liver of any member of the dose groups over the entire period of the study was noted. The findings revealed that chronic exposure to lead produced mild histological and histochemical changes in the liver of the quail Coturnix coturnix.     

中国对虾血细胞包掩作用的超微结构和组织化学观察

用鳗弧菌注射中国对虾,对其体内血细胞的包掩作用进行了超微结构和组织化学观察．结果表明：在注菌的对虾体内,包囊产生于多种器官和组织,在释放颗粒的过程中,半颗粒细胞和颗粒细胞的表面即发生变化,开始与周围细胞相粘接;在包囊中心是电子不透明的非结构团块;含吞噬泡的透明细胞也常被包围在包囊内,构成包囊的血细胞中细胞器趋于退化,在组织化学上表现为细胞中的ＲＮＡ大为减少,色氨酸几乎消失;然而,包囊从开始形成起,就呈Ｃｈｅｖｒｅｍｅｎｔ铁氰化钾法强阳性反应,此反应可被Ｂａｒｎｅｔ碘液法封闭．推测这一现象与黑色素生成有关．