Response of Channa puricrarus to acidic water was studied by exposing fishes to pH 3.5.4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 for 6 weeks. Growth and mortality data indicated increasing stress as the acid level in the ambient water increased. While no mortality was recorded at pH 6.5, a distinct loss of weight compared to continuous gain in body weight in control fish indicated stress. As the pH level decreased, the rate of loss in body weight increased accompanied by mortality which rose to as high as 60% within 3 weeks in fishes exposed to water at pH 3.5.Haematological investigations confirmed the general stress indicated by growth and mortality data. Thus. RBC and related values indicated overall polycythemia. However, eosinophils, basophils. and large and small lymphocytes showed a distinct fall in number as compared to the control .Correlated haematopoietic studies revealed that both the initial and penultimate stages in RBC and neutrophil development recorded an increase parallel to that observed in peripheral blood, but intermediate stages. probably because they were unable to keep pace with the fast turnover, showed a relative decrease.Biochemical investigations showed an increase not only in blood glucose level but also in liver glycogen content. However, there was a significant decrease in muscle glycogen reserves.The significance of these changes is discussed.
Results of experiments on fishes maintained at three different temperatures (25, 30 and 35" C). compared with a control group maintained at 14" C, are presented. Fishes showed obvious signs of stress at 30 and 35" C, as indicated by loss of weight and increase in mortality rate. On the other hand, those at 14 and 25" C gained weight steadily and showed normal growth.Biochemical studies confirm the stress symptoms, as there was a steady, statistically significant fall in blood glucose level and depletion of glycogen reserves in liver and muscle within the first week at 35" C and by the fourth week at 30" C.These results were further confirmed by haematological investigations. All the parameters tested indicated deviation from the normal healthy conditions seen at 14 and 25°C. The deviations in most of the parameters at 35" C were statistically significant from about the second week, and at 30" C by the fourth week. Erythrocytic polycythemia accompanied by an increase in haemoglobin content and haematwrit values were indicative of thermal stress. Leucopenia was mainly contributed by neutrophil decrease, but a relative increase in thrombocytes was recorded.Correlated erythropoietic studies indicated an increase both in the initial (small lymphoid haemoblast) and penultimate (mature reticulocyte) stages in red cell development, although the intermediate stages decreased in number. Similar trends in the different stages of neutrophil development were observed. The significance of these changes in the context of homeostatic phenomena is discussed.
Using spleen and head kidney imprints, studies on erythropoiesis in Channu punctntus have been made describing each developmental stage with regard to its morphology, morphometry and cytochemistry. This has been undertaken using the new techniques available for haematopoietic studies of fishes. These include autoradiography for information on DNA synthesis and Graham-Knoll's benzidine method with Giemsa used as a counterstain for the differential staining of haemoglobin. Thus, a more definitive picture of the haematopoietic phenomenon in Channa punctatus has been evolved.
Mahajan, C. L., Dheer, J. M. S. 1980. Origin and development of neutrophils in an air breathing fish, Channa punctatus Bloch. (Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, India.) — Acta zool. (Stockh.) 61(4): 221–224.
An account of the study of the development of neutrophils based on detailed examinations of kidney and spleen imprints has been given in this paper. Each developmental stage has been investigated with respect to its morphology, morphometry and cytochemistry using certain special techniques developed in this laboratory for fishes such as differential haemoglobin staining, autoradiography etc. Five main stages (large lymphoid haemoblasts, promyelocytes, mesomyelocytes, metamyelocytes, mature neutrophils) have been identified in development and are described in detail.
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