Pathological alterations in the liver of post-juvenile African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) exposed to sublethal concentrations of the herbicide Glyphosate.

Abstract

The use of histopathological techniques allows investigators to examine specific target organs and cells to determine how they are affected by exposure to environmental chemicals like pesticides. Moreover, it offers a means of detecting acute and chronic harmful effects of exposure in the tissues and organs of individual animals. In this study, histopathological alterations in the liver of post-juvenile African catfish Clarias gariepinus exposed to varying concentration of the commonly used herbicide glyphosate (IPA 360g/L) were used as biomarkers of effect, and alterations were both concentration and time specific. Cellular rupture, aggregation of inflammatory cells, vacuolar degeneration in the hepatocytes, focal areas of necrosis, and rupture of blood vessels that resulted in haemorrhage were characteristic of Glyphosate-exposed liver. The observed alterations in the liver of C. gariepinus further provide evidence to support the use of pathological change in fish as an indicator for monitoring the effect of exposure to low levels of toxicants, which are capable of altering the physiological profile of an organism.

Keywords: Pathology, Toxicity, Liver, Health, Glyphosate, Biomarker.