Histopathological Effects of Cadmium Chloride (CdCl2) Exposure on the Liver of Freshwater Fish Heteropneustes fossilis

Abstract

The histopathological effects of CdCl2 on the liver of H. fossilis by acute and chronic exposure of 25 mg/l, 50 
mg/l, and 75 mg/l during interval of 30 and 60 days were studied. Similarly, control groups were operated 
simultaneously with experimental set-up to study alterations in the morphology and architecture of liver in 
order to understand the injury. The Liver of H. fossilis Normally, the liver of H. fossilis displayed a bilobed 
structure consisting of polygonal hepatocytes that were radially disposed around the hepatic veins, which 
maintained its characteristic architecture with an evident nucleus and interspersed binding connective tissue. 
Histopathological changes by exposure to CdCl2 Both acute and chronic exposure were associated with 
hematogenesis characterized by darker fragile livers with hepatocyte hypertrophy. Hepatocytes lost the 
polygonal shape and were dispersed; cytoplasmic vacuolization, pyknotic changes, and bile canaliculi dilation. 
Prolonged exposure worsened these effects, and resulted in marked atrophy accompanied by necrosis, cellular 
shrinkage and tissue distortion. In addition, higher concentrations of CdCl2resulted in enlarged Kupffer cells, 
ruptured nuclei, cellular necrosis and focal necrosis in liver tissue. Our results suggest that progressive 
histopathological alterations in the liver of H. fossilis due to CdCl2exposure, signifying the susceptibility of this 
organ to heavy metal toxicity and its ecological prospects in aquatic environs.