Ultrastructural changes in fin epithelium of Channa punctatus (Bloch) exposed to mercuric chloride: sem study

ABSTRACT

Fish skin is in direct contact with water and forms the first line of defense against pathogens and toxicants present in the surrounding water. The effect of mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) on surface architecture of the epidermis of caudal fin of an air breathing fish, Channa punctatus was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and revealed the presence of microridges that formed intricate, maze-like patterns. The exposed fish showed significant alterations including disorganization of microridge pattern and increase in number as well as enlargement of mucus cell openings. These findings exhibited concentration- and time- dependent alterations in fin epithelium. Data demonstrated that fin epithelium of fish may be successfully employed as a bioindicator of water pollution.

KEYWORDS:

• Caudal fin
• Channa punctatus
• epithelium
• mercuric chloride
• scanning electron microscopy

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Department of Zoology and Center for Emerging Life Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar for providing necessary laboratory facilities and Scanning Electron Microscope facility for carrying out this work. This work was supported by Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi under Inspire fellowship IF120038.

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The author(s) declare no potential conflict of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology [INSPIRE FELLOWSHIP IF120038];