Liver histology and histomorphometry in hybrid sorubim (<i>Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum </i>× <i>Pseudoplatystoma corruscans</i>) reared on intensive fish farming

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the liver histology and histomorphometry in sorubim hybrid of different categories (nursery, growth and grow-out) reared on fish farming. The categories were defined considering body weight (BW): nursery category (n = 5): BW = 37.06 ± 6.00 g (31.6–45.3 g); growth category (n = 5): BW = 310.40 ± 53.80 g (242.1–376.4 g) and grow-out category (n = 5): BW = 874.28 ± 27.59 g (846.2–913.1 g). Liver fragments were processed to paraffin inclusion, and sections were stained by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), PAS (Periodic Acid Schiff) and Perl's staining to histology, histomorphometry and density volumetric of liver structures; glycogen analysis and to detect ferric irons (Fe3+) respectively. The hepatosomatic index decreased between the categories (P < 0.01). The percentage of PAS-positive hepatocytes in the nursery category was higher (P < 0.05) in relation to the growth and grow-out categories. The hepatocytes from all fish were positive to Perl's staining. The density volumetric of liver structures did not differ among categories except to blood vessels were higher (P < 0.01) in the nursery and growth. The area (μm2) and perimeter (μm) of hepatocytes, and the area (μm2), perimeter (μm) and volume (μm3) of the nuclei from grow-out fish were lower (P < 0.01) than those from the nursery and growth categories. Changes in morphometric characteristics of hepatocytes may result from metabolic changes associated with body growth surubins; therefore, these morphometric characteristics of liver tissue can be used as functional biomarkers for the assessment of fish health and nutrition status.