Effect of copper sulphate and lead nitrate, administered alone or in combination, on the histology of liver and kidney of Labeo rohita.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of acute doses of copper sulphate and lead nitrate, administered alone or in combination on the histology of liver and kidney of Labeo rohita . The 96h LC 50 values for copper sulphate (CuSO 4.5H 2O) and lead nitrate (Pb(NO 3)2) were found to be 3.15 mg L -1 and 6.80 mg L -1 respectively. In this study, four groups, one control and three experimentals, each of 40 fingerlings of L. rohita were used. One treatment group was exposed to 3.15 mg L -1 of CuSO 4.5H 2O, the second to 6.80 mg L -1 of Pb(NO 3)2, the third was, exposed to mixture of 1.575 mg L -1 of CuSO4.5H 2O. + 3.40 mg L -1 of Pb(NO 3)2, whereas, the fourth group did not receive any metal treatment. Exposure of toxicants caused fatty change, karyopyknosis, nuclear vacuolization and cytoplasmic collapse in liver of all experimental groups. Congestion of blood vessel, liquefactive necrosis of first and second proximal segment, and irregularity in interstitial haematopoietic tissue were observed in kidney of all experimental animals. In addition to these, the extravasation of blood from blood vessel, coagulative necrosis of first and second proximal segments and irregular blood congestion, and tubular necrosis were also observed in E-3 group. These findings classify CuSO 4.5H 2O and Pb(NO 3)2 as strong toxic agents for L. rohita .