Hepatocyte nuclear structure and subcellular distribution of copper in zebrafish Brachydanio rerio and roach Rutilus rutilus (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) exposed to copper sulphate

• Published in: Aquatic toxicology 2006-05, Vol.77 (3), p.306-313
• Main Authors: PARISPALACIOS, S, BIAGIANTIRISBOURG, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; bioaccumulation; Biological and medical sciences; Brachydanio; cell biology; Cell Nucleolus - drug effects; cell nucleus; Cell Nucleus - drug effects; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cell Nucleus - ultrastructure; Copper; Copper Sulfate - analysis; Copper Sulfate - metabolism; Copper Sulfate - toxicity; Cyprinidae; Cyprinidae - physiology; Danio rerio; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Electron Probe Microanalysis - veterinary; Female; Fish; Freshwater; freshwater fish; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; heavy metals; hepatocytes; Hepatocytes - drug effects; Hepatocytes - metabolism; Hepatocytes - ultrastructure; histology; Liver; Liver - drug effects; Liver - pathology; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission - veterinary; Nucleolus; Nucleus; Roach; Rutilus rutilus; Teleostei; Ultrastructure; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; water pollution; Zebrafish; Zebrafish - physiology
• ISSN: 0166-445X; 1879-1514
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2006.01.001

Copper is a trace element essential to life, but also a heavy metal with toxic effect clearly demonstrated. Cu induced perturbations in fish liver are well documented but the variability of the reported results is large. In this study two cyprinids, zebrafish and roach, were exposed to copper. Reported histocytological changes are either adaptative or degenerative depending on fish species, concentration of metal, and duration of exposure. Hepatic subcellular distribution of copper was determined by X-ray microanalysis in control and Cu-exposed roach and zebrafish. Sublethal copper sulphate contamination induced the development of a particular nucleolar alteration forming a network or honeycomb like structure in liver. This perturbation is observable in almost all the hepatocytes of zebrafish and roach exposed to copper for a minimum of 4 days of exposure. It seemed to concern more precisely the pars fibrosa. X-ray microanalysis showed that the appearance of network nucleolus was in relation to a Cu accumulation. Cu deposit was well located in the network as pars granulosa and nucloplasm showed very lower metal concentrations. The origin and consequence of network structure in nucleolus was discussed.