Ultrastructure changes in hepatocytes of catfish
Clarias gariepinus
from Lake Mariut, Egypt
Ashraf
M. Abdel-Moneim*1 and Hala
A. Abdel-Mohsen2
1Department of Zoology,
Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria
- 215 11, Egypt
2National
Institute of Oceanography
and Fisheries, Kayet-Bay, Al-Anfoushy,
Alexandria, Egypt
(Received: February 26, 2009; Revised received: July 18, 2009;
Accepted: August
25, 2009)
Abstract: In the present study, specimens of
catfish (Clariidae) were collected from a polluted
location (Main Basin)
and a relatively clean area (East Basin) in Lake Mariut,
one of the Nile Delta
Lakes in Egypt. Fifteen fish were taken from
each site. Liver preparations of fish from the two sources were comparatively
examined for cellular changes using transmission electron microscopy. Fish hepatocytes from the polluted area showed accumulation of
the heterochromatin, enlarged nucleoli, and an extremely folded nuclear
envelope. Perichromatin granules were increased and
progressively formed small clusters closely associated with patches of
heterochromatin. In the cytoplasm, fractionation, dilation, and vesiculation of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), and
elevated amounts of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) tubules were noted. The
most frequent pathological modifications were the swelling of mitochondria, cristae regression and changes in the electron-transparency
of the matrix. Lysosomes showing myelin-like stacks
of membraneous material (phospholipidosis),
glycogenosomes (i.e., glycogen rosettes enclosed by
membranes) and cytoplasmic myelinated
bodies were strongly developed. Furthermore, increasing numbers of secondary lysosomes with degraded cell organelles were found. With
reference to the storage vesicles, there appeared to be an increase in the
lipid droplets (lipidosis) within many hepatocytes. This study reinforces the need to select
representative sentinel species from different habitats for biomonitoring
purposes and it provides further support for the use of biomarkers in assessing
the health of aquatic ecosystems.
Key words: Clarias gariepinus, Liver, Ultrastructure,
Pollution, Lake Mariut
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