Liver Histopathology in Brown Trout (Salmo trutta f. fario) from the Tinhela River, Subjected to Mine Drainage from the Abandoned Jales Mine (Portugal)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the occurrence of toxicopathic liver lesions in brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) from Tinhela River near the Jales Mine, both before implementation (2002) and after completion of the governmental mitigation program (2006). Fish were caught in April 2002 and May 2006, using an electrofishing system at four sites: S0, reference station; S1, S2 and S3 as contaminated stations. In 2002, the hepatosomatic index (HSI) was significantly higher for trout captured at the contaminated sites S2 and S3 than in S0. After the rehabilitation program, the HSI of fish sampled at the contaminated sites did not differ from the reference group. The liver of trout caught at S0 exhibited the normal parenchymal and stromal architecture described for the species and there were no pathological abnormalities. In contrast, fish sampled at S3 and S2 sites had diverse toxicopathic alterations. Specifically, livers from the two contaminated sites showed bile duct hyperplasia, often with mild epithelial dysplasia and fibrotic adventitial sleeve, foci of smaller and more basophilic hepatocytes and foci of hepatocellular necrosis; the latter conditions were frequently associated. Compared with the reference animals, increased hepatocellular vacuolization was found in livers from the polluted sites. Histopathological examination revealed differences among sampling sites in the severity and diversity of hepatic lesions clearly related to the proximity of the tailings. No pathological alterations were observed in the livers of brown trout caught in the same four areas of the Tinhela River after the mitigation program in 2006. In conclusion, our results supported that drainage from the abandoned Jales Mine had deleterious toxicological effects in brown trout. Our data suggested that the governmental mitigation program may have reduced the impact of Jales tailings.

The hepatocytes of the brown trout (Salmo trutta fario): A stereological study of some cytoplasmic components with the breeding cycle

“…Such interest has been renewed often as many aquatic pollutants mimic and disturb the action of endogenous steroids upon hepatocytes (Navas and Segner, 2006; Stahlschmidt‐Allner et al, 1997). It is worth recalling that brown trout is used in biomonitoring, namely by tackling liver structure, and so baseline data is crucial for proper interpretations (Carrola et al, 2009; Triebskorn et al, 2002).…”

Heavy metal contamination and hepatic toxicological responses in brown trout (Salmo trutta) from the Kerguelen Islands

“…Therefore, the numbers and morphological characteristics of MMCs can be influenced by xenobiotics as well as by the natural physiological conditions (Agius 1981;Manera et al 2000). The exposure to Cd and Cu has been shown to cause histopathology of the liver, even at low concentrations (Paris-Palacios et al 2000;Schwaiger 2001;Carrola et al 2009). This hepatic response to metals includes: fibrosis, necrosis, formation of MMCs and increased immune cell infiltration, changes in the nuclear and nucleolar patterns, modification of hepatocytic energetic storage (increased lipids and decreased glycogen) (Paris-Palacios et al 2000;Greenfield et al 2008).…”

“…have been used to evidence physiological stress induced by different contaminants (Schwaiger et al 1997;Paris-Palacios et al 2000;Schwaiger 2001). Indeed, the liver is a key organ involved at different levels of fish normal physiological functions, and it plays a crucial role in bioaccumulation and detoxification processes (Biagianti-Risbourg 1990;Carrola et al 2009). It can be structurally and functionally disturbed in response to chemical stressors (Schmidt et al 1999).…”

Water Quality and Hispathology of Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus Bloch) at Cempaka Mining, South Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…During the dry season, diamond and gold mining process at Cempaka have an influence on climbing perch and aquatic environments. Results of research on Argentina mining threatens biodiversity, one of the observation station showed toxicological effects on local fish because no fish Brown trout were caught in April 2002 and May 2006 (Carrola, et al, 2009).…”

“…The hispathology observation on the brown trout heart (Salmo trutta f. fario) in Tinhela river Portugal shows there is no pathology change (S 0 ), the parenchyma shape and stroma is clear. The change of toxipcopathic on S 2 and S 3 such as hyperplasia ductus bile, light dysplasia ephitel and adventitial fibrosis arm, the focus of hepatocyte is smaller and more basophilic and necrosis hepatocellular (Carrola, et al, 2009). …”