Prolactin cells of a teleost, Heteropneustes fossilis, intoxicated with Metacid-50

Abstract

The fish Heteropneustes fossilis were subjected to 5.28 mg/L (80% of 96 h LC50) and 1.32 mg/L (20% of 96 h LC50) solution of Metacid-50 (active ingredient methyl-parathion) for short-term (96 h) and long-term (28 days), respectively. H. fossilis exposed for short-term (96 h) to sublethal concentration of Metacid-50 exhibited a marked decrease in plasma calcium level. In short-term experiment, no change was noticed throughout the experiment in the histological structure and nuclear volume of prolactin cells of Metacid-50 treated fish. The chronical exposure of fish for long-term to Metacid-50-provoked hypocalcaemia. Up to 14 days there was no histological change in the prolactin cells of Metacid-50-exposed fish. After 21 days these cells exhibited slight degranulation. However, the nuclear volume remained unchanged. The prolactin cellsexhibited further degranulation and the nuclear volume recorded an increase following 28 days Metacid-50
exposure. At some places, vacuolization and cytolysis were also observed.

Keywords: Prolactin cells, Organophosphate, catfish, plasma calcium, Metacid-50; methyl-parathion.

Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. Vol. 2 (3) 2008: pp. 339-345