Vergolias M. Morphofunctional changes of blood, gill and tail flipper cells of fishes for the estimation of water environment quality and influence of toxic agents

Object of research: morphofunctional changes in cells of the peripheral blood and in some tissues (gills and tail flipper) of the fishes. The aim of work: determine hematological parameters, characterize morphofunctional changes in cells of the peripheral blood and in some tissues of the fishes and evaluate theirs value in normal conditions and in influence of toxic substances. Methods of research: cytological, method of genotoxicity assessment (micronuclear test), and statistical. It was demonstrated that white blood cells formula of the Antarctic fishes (Notothenia coriiceps, Trematomus bernacchii and Chaenocephalus aceratus) is characterized by specific features in comparison with blood formula of the freshwater fishes (Carassius auratus, Carassius auratus gibelio, Cyprinus carpio, Abramis brama). Differences are observed mainly in the amount of eosinophiles, monocytes and basophiles. Toxic substances (benzidine, salts of cadmium and copper) induce changes in the hematological indices of fish blood and the cytomorphological changes in nucleus structure of erythrocytes and other cells of studied fishes. A significant increase in number of cells with micronucleus and doubled nucleus was also demonstrated. It was shown that the toxic effect of copper ions in water was characterized by the increase in percentage of red blood cells and gill cells with nucleus anomalies, such as appearance of micronuclei and doubled nuclei. Additionally, distinct symptoms of apoptosis in these cells were detected. On the example of the investigation of natural water samples in course of bio-testing and bio-monitoring expedience, the validity of hematological parameters and of the level of structural alterations of nucleus in bony fish cells were proved. Area of use: cytology, toxicology, cellular biology.