title: Acute effects evaluation of HgCl2 on epidermis of Trichomycterus brasiliensis (Siluroidei; trichomycteridae).
abstract: The effects of HgCl2 on the epidermis of Trichomycterus brasiliensis were studied by histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural methods. First, the normal organization of the tissue was described in order to study the HgCl2 effects on the skin structure. The epithelial cells presented a typical structural organization found in many fishes. Basically five types of cells could be detailed: goblet cells, club cells, germinative stratum cells, intermediate layer cells, and epithelial cells in the superficial layer. The goblet cells in the superficial layer present evidence of secretory activity by positive histochemical reactions. In cells exposed to HgCl2, different morphological alterations were observed in the epithelium structure, such as an increase in the lymphocyte number, hypertrophied epithelial cells at the surface, modified taste buds, obstruction of the goblet cells pore, and high cellular proliferation. Moreover, the chemical nature of the goblet cells was not modified by the presence of the HgCl2 dissolved in water. All animals died within 24 hr after the contamination with inorganic mercury at concentrations of 0.2 and 0.1 mg HgCl2/liter.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Oliveira Ribeiro
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005399:Fishes; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008627:Mercuric Chloride