Histopathology of the Foot, Gill and Digestive Gland Tissues of Freshwater Mussel, Lamellidens marginalis Exposed to Oil Effluent

    

    

    Figure 75: Haematoxylin and eosin stained paraffin sections during
depuration period of mussel digestive gland tissue. (1/10th depuration-15th
22nd and 30th days) (X1000).
    

Discussion

Biological, physiology and morphological structure of molluscan systems were described [20-22]. The normal structure of mussels gill, foot, digestive gland has been well-described [23,24]. In some publications, lesions have only been described morphologically [25]. Summary of some relevant earlier literature on marine as well as freshwater mussels histological observations with various toxicants and comparison with our present results are compiled (Table 1). In the present study, when exposed to both sublethal concentrations of oil effluent little changes were observed in mussels foot tissue on I^st day. From 8^th day onwards, outer epithelium of the mussels’ foot tissue were disorgnaised and resulted in necrosis of the cell. When exposed to the sublethal concentrations of oil effluent, for longer duration’s muscle bundle themselves were also disorgnaised in mussel foot tissue. This could lead to the failure of a number of biochemical activities as well as osmo and iono-regulatory functions of the foot. Present histopathological findings may explain a defensive reaction from the mussels under investigation as similar results were observed by molluscan researchers. Thus, the present results are in agreement with [26] who exposed to heavy metals splitting of muscle bundles in foot tissue were observed in the fresh water mussel, Lamellidens marginali. Similar findings [27] were observed disruption of nuclei of the epithelial glands in foot tissue when exposed to pesticide. The histopathology of foot indicated that concentration and duration of exposure period resulted in massive destruction in normal architecture of foot tissue of mussel. Similarly, the disruption of the epithelium of the gill filaments and all the versions of the cilia were observed when exposed of both sublethal concentrations of oil effluent. The epithelium indicated severe pathological changes of the oedima formation and necrosis. The cilia appeared disaggregated during accumulation of both sublethal concentrations of oil effluent. The gills (ctenidia) of lamellibranch bivalves play a dominant role in controlling the interaction between the individual and its environment. A great deal of literature is available on the mechanisms of food particle retention, as well as on the nature and activities of the cilary systems of such organs [28]. Histological alterations and biochemical changes of gill tissues produced by the chemical stress causes disturbed metabolism, enzyme inhibition, retardation of growth, fecundity reduction and longevity of the organism, which will affect balance in the ecosystem [29]. An exhaustive review of toxicant/ irritant induced changes in the gill, stated that the inflammatory changes tend to be largely non-specific, and seen to reflect physiological adaptation to stresses were made [16]. Tributyltin (TBT) treated mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis the structure of gill was destroyed, interfilament junctions and cilia disappeared and lateral and endothelial cells were changed [30]. A wide variety of histopathological and physiological responses to naphthalene exposure were described in the mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus [31]. Structural changes and proliferate lesions of gills in Salmo trutta, Oncorhychus mykiss, was observed [32] when exposed to sewage plant effluents. When exposed to pesticides, fusion of gill lamellae in Lamellidens marginalis [33], gill epithelium lining and disruption in Lamellidens marginalis [34], gill exibits reducing space between channels, tissue swelling in Lamellidens marginalis [35], vacuolation, epithelial alterations in Mytilus galloprovincialis [36], damaged epithelium, cilia, epithelium ruptured in gill of Unio pictorum [37], elongated gill filament, gill epithelium ruptured with damaged ciliary lining in Lamellidens marginalis [38] were observed and when exposed to microplastics, epithelial alterations, necrosis were observed in Mytilus spp. [39]. When exposed to heavy metals loss of cilia, epithelial damage, swollen lumen, elongation of gill filaments in Perna viridis [40]; gill filaments altered, oedematic, necrotic and vacuolated epithelium in Lamellidens marginalis [41] were observed. Hence, the changes in the histopathological structure of the gill can be use as biomarkers of exposure in the aquatic environment and the freshwater bivalve Lamellidens marginalis can be considered as a bioindicator organism to assess the water quality. Similarly, the digestive gland produced gross changes in the epithelium of the glands as well as the stroma. The glandular epithelium invariably detached from the stroma were observed in mussel, during accumulation period of oil effluent. This stroma adds dense accumulation of leukocytes from I^st day exposure of both concentrations. Thoroughly disrupted integrity of the epithelium was observed during the accumulation of both sublethal concentrations of oil effluent and a major change was consisted of vertical clefts. Another important feature were observed towards the dense accumulation of the luminal material, which also contain leukocytes, which were otherwise confined to stroma. The responses of digestive gland of mussels to various pollutants exposure of previous results and our present study are in agreement with the following findings of works. Disruption in the epithelial of glands, tissue burden, digestive tube thickness, lumen enlargement, necrotic tissues by heavy metals in Mytilus galloprovincialis [42,43], in mytilus edulis [44], in Perna viridis, Perna indica [45,46], in Crenomytilus grayanus [17]; PAH induced altered diverticula, damages in digestive tubules in Mytilus galloprovincialis [47]; industrial effluents alters vacuolar degeneration in Mytilus galloprovincialis [48]; mixture of micro-plastics altered atrophies, lumen enlargement in Mytilus spp [39]; insecticide damages digestive tubule alterations, hypertrophy, hyperplasia in Mytilus galloprovincialis [36]; heavy metals damages hemocytic infiltration digestive gland, inflammation in Anodonta cygnea [49], condensed nuclei, altered morphology of cell in Dreissena polymorpha [50], increase of atrophic tubule, damages lumen of digestive tubule in Mytilus galloprovincialis [51]; anthropogenic contaminant induces diverticula, inter-tubular tissue necrosis in Ruditapes decussatus [52]; xylene, benzene and gear oil-WSF damages cell debris, fusion of nuclei, disintegration of epithelial cells necrosis in Gafrarium divaricatum (calm) [53]; pesticide alters disruption in digestive tubules, epithelial lining, necrotic tissue in the lumen in Lamellidens marginalis [54] were observed. Disruption of normal lysosomal function is indicated by the increased fragility of lysosomes in digestive cells throughout the experiment and this is reflected in a reduced physiological scope for growth [55]. Formation of neoplasams in the digestive gland in Unio pictorum by subjecting 200-400 ppm diethyl- and dimethylnitrosamines were observed [56]. Number of gill mucous cells and the heights of digestive diverticula tubule cells were different, compared with the control, at 2 or 4 weeks, when exposed to cadmium were observed [57]. During depuration (recovery) period, the mussel brought about almost complete restorations of the histo-architecture of the foot tissue. Similarly, brought about partial to almost complete restoration of the histoarchitecture of the gill filaments. The cilia appeared normal. The epithelium is almost free from oedima formation and necrosis. Likewise, the mussel brought about a gradual restoration of the organization of the digestive gland and nature of the epithelium. The day 15th onwards the granular architecture was comparable to that of the control mussels, though the dense accumulation of leukocytes between the stroma and epithelium continued till the 30^th day, but the stroma was absent, completely restored. Such a high level of oil effluent toxicity (concentration and duration) in digestive gland might be responsible of histological alterations. The digestive gland is also helpful for metabolism of xenobiotics. The histological damage to digestive gland tissue of Lamellidens marginalis due to exposure of oil effluent, definitely disturbs its normal functions like secretion, absorption and storage of nutrient materials and this gland is also helpful for metabolism of oil effluent. Present histopathology investigation on the freshwater mussel is sparse, to fill up the gap, a preliminary study has been carried out on the mussel Lamellidens marginalis.

Conclusion

The results of this study are well under the aims and objective of the study. However, results of our research enabled us to understand that histopathological changes in the foot, gill and digestive gland tissues of freshwater mussel, Lamellidens marginalis and is noted accumulator organism of oil pollution. The observed damage to foot, gill and digestive gland tissues due to oil effluent and definitely disturbs its normal functions and storage of nutrient materials. Particularly, the digestive gland is also helpful for metabolism of xenobiotics in freshwater mussel Lamellidens marginalis. These histopathology might be due to the possible utilization for metabolic purpose and may be of early warning signals of environmental pollution.

Acknowledgement

Authors wish to thank, Department of Animal Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India, for providing necessary facilities for completion of research work.

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