Macrophages and Lipid Peroxides Concentration of the Tissues:A Bio-Indicator of Ecological Hazard

Abstract

A comprehensive study on the reproductive system of air breathing catfishes was undertaken to evaluate the effect of environmental toxicants on the breeding capacity of the catfishes, Heteropneustes fossilis. Histopathological examination of ovary by standard error of mean along with oxidative stress estimation measuring lipid peroxides and protein peroxides was carried on the ovary and the vital organs of 125 fishes from a polluted pond near Hindon river in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Depending on the physico-chemical parameter of the polluted pond near Hindon river, it was found unhealthy and designated as Type E. Fresh fishes were taken as control from Gazipur, fish farm. Comparative study of ovarian follicles of control and polluted pond fishes was conducted to estimate the histopathology of the reproductive organ. Polluted pond fishes ovaries showed degenerative changes such as prominent longitudinal zig-zag folds, with eroded surface forming convex region on the margin of developing ovaries. Phagocytic macrophages were also seen present on the surface epithelium of the ovary. It was probably due to stressful condition induced by xenobiotics in the pond. Lipid peroxidation in different tissues was found more consistent in their action as compared to the protein peroxidation due to free radical generation by xenobiotics present in the pond. Thus, excess of macrophages and high level of lipid peroxidation of the tissues can be taken as bio-indicator of ecological hazards in an aquatic ecosystem.