Cytopathology of spleen in eel Anguilla Anguilla exposed to a chemical spill in the Rhine River

Abstract

Structural alterations in the spleen of eel Anguilla anguilla L., following exposure to a chemical spill in the Rhine h v e r in 1986, were investigated by means of light and electron microscopy. Relative abundance of reticulum and blood cells was quantified in comparison to controls. The data presented provide evidence of profound damage to the spleen and its cellular components. Histological and cytological modifications varied within a wide range from minor changes to cell death. Major cytological alterations of reticulum and blood cells included deviations in cytoplasmic density, loss of surface differentiations (cell junctions, pseudopodia), swelling of rnitochondria, formation of rnyelin-like membrane aggregations in the cytoplasm, mitochondria, lysosomes and nuclear membrane, as well as augmentation of lipid droplets. Severely damaged and necrotic cells were found either diffusely or focally distributed within the splenic reticulum. Melano-macrophages were strongly reduced in number and melano-macrophage centres were lacking. In contrast, considerable numbers of macrophages with intense lysosomal compartmentation, but free of pigments, were present. Spleens were further characterized by the absence of erythroblasts and plasma cells. Histological and cytological findings in the spleen of exposed eel indicate a severe impairment of the efficiency of the central splenic functions, in particular phagocytosis and cell-mediated immune response. Thus, chemical-induced patholopcal processes in the spleen have most likely been a contributing factor to the fatality of the chemical spill to the Rhine eel population. They are discussed in the context of earlier investigations on liver and intestine pathology of Rhine eel. Finally, cytological alterations of fish spleen are suggested as a potential biomarker for toxicant-induced damage in fish.

Effect of Feeding with Different Dietary Protein Levels and Starvation on the Health, Nonspecific Immune Parameters, Behavior and Histoarchitectures of Fantail Goldfish (Carassius auratus L.)

“…These results are in agreement with [56] who clarified that necrosis and vacuolation in splenic tissue of European eel Anguilla anguilla following stress of fasting resulting in impairment of normal physiology of fishes. Deposition of haemosiderin leads to pathological state known as haemosiderosis [57].…”

Light and electron microscopic comparisons of normal hepatocytes and neoplastec hepatocyles of well-differenciated hepatocellular carcinomas in a teleost fish

“…The MMB's were so conspicuous and unique in profiles of HCC cells, in the present study, that they gave the impression of being real antemortem alterations and structural additions to these presumed neoplastic cells. Further indications that the MMB's may be genuine pathological changes in these chemically induced HCC cells are the reports of similar MMB's in hepatomas of mammals (Ghadially 1975), in neoplastic hepatocytes in bullhead catfish (Hampton et al 1988), in toxicant-exposed non-neoplastic fish hepatocytes (Braunbeck & Volkl 1991), and in cells from eels exposed to mixed toxicants (Spazier et al 1992). In these reports, as in the present report, the MMB's appear to occupy the intermembranous spaces of hepatocyte mitochondria.…”

“…Such a qualitative alteration as MMB's cannot be related solely to presumed neoplastic transformation in the present study, because even though Hampton et al (1988) found myelin figures in bullhead HCC cells, Braunbeck & Volkl (1991) found MMB's in eel nonneoplastic hepatocytes and Spazier et al (1992) found them in eel spleen cells that were not neoplastic, but which were biochemically altered following exposure to dinitro-o-cresol (DNOC) in both the polluted Rhine River and in laboratory experimental exposures. Therefore, if MMB induction is not a fixation artifact, but results directly or indirectly from chemically induced cytotoxic effects (e.g.…”

“…Liver tissue used in this study was fixed in glutaraldehyde for only 2 to 6 h, not for extended periods. Therefore, it is uncertain whether or not the MMB's described herein are fixation artifacts or are genuine pathological alterations resulting from some toxicant-induced, direct or indirect dysfunction in mitochondrial membrane synthesis as suggested by Spazier et al (1992).…”

L'anguille européenne Anguilla anguilla, un poisson sensible aux stress environnementaux et vulnérable à diverses atteintes pathogènes

“…Une autre étude a été entreprise pour tester les effluents toxiques du Rhin sur l'anguille (SPAZIER et al, 1992), qui a révélé l'existence de lésions cellulaires de la rate traduisant des anomalies de phagocytose et une diminution de la défense immunitaire cellulaire. Certaines affections telles que la nécrose printanière de l'anguille («spring ulcer disease»), sous la forme de nécroses et hémorragies tégumentaires, ont été rapportées à des pollutions multifactorielles (JENSEN et al, 1983 ;DALSGAARD, 1987) (Fleuve Ems, en 1985: KOOPS et HARTMANN, 1987TARASCHEWSKI etal., 1987), Pays-Bas (juillet 1985 : VAN BANNING et al, 1985), Belgique (décembre 1985: BELPAIRE et al, 1987et 1989a, Danemark (1986: KOIE, 1988b, Suède (1988: HOGLUND et ANDERSSON, 1993, Hongrie (septembre 1990: SZEKELY etal., 1991), Grande Bretagne (fin 1987: KENNEDY et FITCH, 1990, Italie (CAN ESTRIN l-TROTTI, 1987), Espagne (avril 1987: BELPAIRE etal., 1989b Ce ver hématophage se localise, à l'état adulte, dans la vessie gazeuse, les larves L 3 se développant dans la paroi de cet organe.…”