Effects of heavy metal pollution on pigmented macrophages in kidney of Vardar chub (Squalius vardarensisKaraman)

Abstract

Pollution with heavy metals may influence the immune system of fish, leading to impairment of their health or even increase their mortality. The fish kidney is one of the first fish organs to be affected by water contamination. Amounts of kidney macrophages (MACs), which are involved in fish immune response, as well as the qualitative and quantitative changes in the pigmented MACs in fish kidney, are used as biomarkers of pollution. Therefore, in this study, we have evaluated relative and total volumes of trunk kidney pigmented MACs, and analyzed the pigments accumulated within them. Fish were sampled from two mining impacted rivers, Kriva and Zletovska, highly contaminated with heavy metals, and from one reference river, Bregalnica, in spring and autumn of 2012. We have observed that main pigments found in kidney MACs of Vardar chub were melanin and lipofuscin/ceroid, as well as that relative volumes of MACs ranged from 0.56 to 1.68%. Moreover, the results showed that relative volumes of pigmented MACs were higher in metal contaminated rivers, especially in autumn season in the Zletovska River, concurrently with extremely high metal exposure. In addition, condition factors and kidney somatic indices were found significantly lower in the Zletovska River in both seasons, autumn and spring, possibly also as a consequence of high water pollution. Our data confirm that increase in relative volumes of pigmented MACs may serve as warning sign of potential heavy metal pollution in aquatic environment.

Characterization and identification of selected metal-binding biomolecules from hepatic and gill cytosols of Vardar chub (Squalius vardarensis Karaman, 1928) using various techniques of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

“…In the laboratory, fish were anesthetized with Clove Oil (Sigma Aldrich, USA) and euthanized, and then liver, gills and gonads were dissected. Fish total lengths (cm) and total masses (g) were measured, Fulton condition indices (FCI) were calculated using the formula provided by Rätz and Lloret 33 , whereas fish sex was determined histologically 34 . The liver and gills were put in liquid nitrogen immediately upon the dissection, and afterwards they were stored in the freezer at -80C.…”

Pigmented macrophages and related aggregates in the spleen of european sea bass dosed with heavy metals: Ultrastructure and explorative morphometric analysis

“…Quesada, Villena, and Aguillero () provide a description of structure and ultrastructure of spleen in sea bass, with details on macrophages and MAs. Variations of density and/or dimensions of MAs, a general biomarker of exposure, are typically studied in fish experimentally or naturally dosed with heavy metals (see Giari et al, ; Graves, Kidd, Houlahan, & Munkittrick ; Jordanova et al, ). However, the effects of heavy metals on the ultrastructure of PMs and related aggregates has not been considered to date.…”

Mining waste as a cause of increased bioaccumulation of highly toxic metals in liver and gills of Vardar chub (Squalius vardarensis Karaman, 1928)

“…Furthermore, the highest relative volumes of immune cells, pigmented macrophages, in the kidney (Jordanova et al, 2017), as well as higher frequency and intensity of histopathological alterations in the gills (Barišić et al, 2015), were also noticed in the fish from the Zletovska River, which had higher levels of bioaccumulated toxic metals, and that was especially evident in autumn season during the period of increased metal exposure (Ramani et al, 2014).…”

“…For the purposes of this study we have caught 158 individuals of Vardar chub (Squalius vardarensis Karaman, 1928; family Cyprinidae; class Actinopterygii). In the spring campaign 90 individuals were caught, 30 from each river, whereas in the autumn campaign 68 individuals were caught, 30 from the Bregalnica River, 26 from the Kriva River, and 12 from the Zletovska River (Barišić et al, 2015;Jordanova et al, 2016;Dragun et al, 2017;Jordanova et al, 2017). Fish were sampled by electro fishing, applying the electrofisher Samus 725G and following the guidelines stated in the standard CEN EN 14011:2003.…”

“…The sampling points selected at three studied rivers were previously described in several of our papers resulting from the same project (Ramani et al, 2014, Barišić et al, 2015Jordanova et al, 2016;Dragun et al, 2017;Jordanova et al, 2017). The sampling point at the Bregalnica River (N 4143.57' E 2210.27') was selected at the site primarily influenced by rice fields runoff (Andreevska et al, 2013), but also by municipal sewage and industrial facilities of the Štip town (Rebok, 2013).…”