Ammonia stress-induced physiological and histological changes in Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1794)
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Ammonia is a major environmental pollutant in freshwater aquatic systems, significantly impacting the survival and growth of aquatic organisms. In the present study, we investigated the changes in blood physiological parameters and gill structure in Heteropneustes fossilis under hyper-ammonia stress (25 mM NH₄Cl) for experimental exposure durations of 1, 3, 6 and 9 h, as well as after a 24 h recovery period in normal water following 9 h of exposure (9h+N). Results indicated a progressive increase in blood ammonia levels up to 6 h, with fluctuations thereafter, however, even after recovery period, it was significantly more than that of control (p<0.05). This was accompanied by a corresponding rise in urea concentration, reaching up to a four-fold increase at 6 h exposure, followed by a decrease at 9 h and to that of control level at 9h+N. Blood glucose exhibited a continuous increase with prolonged exposure till 9 h exposure and then significantly decreased during recovery period. Serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) showed significant increase at 6 h, while serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) at both 3 and 6 h. There was a fluctuating pattern of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). No significant changes were observed for haemoglobin, haematocrit, serum protein and serum creatinine. Histological examination of gill tissues revealed extensive damage, particularly after 9 h of ammonia exposure. At this time point, 78% of the gills exhibited severe structural alterations, including the loss of secondary lamellae tips and 51% showed oedematous changes. Keywords: Gills, Hyper-ammonia, Heteropneustes fossilis, Haematological, Oedematous changes
Source: Indian Journal of Fisheries
Authors: Aditya Kumar, Labrechai Mog Chowdhury, Rajesh Kumar, Radhika Rimal, Vindhya Mohindra
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4414852024