title: Histopathological changes in gills of the estuarine crab Chasmagnathus granulata (Crustacea-Decapoda) following acute exposure to ammonia.
abstract: Histopathological effects of ammonia on the gills of the estuarine crab Chasmagnathus granulata (Dana, 1851) were evaluated after acute exposure to ammonia concentrations around LC(50) value (17.85 Mm). Disruption of pilaster cells and a subsequent collapse of gill lamellae were the main effects observed. Epithelial necrosis and hyperplasia were also detected. Significant (P<0.05) increases in pCO(2) and lactate, and significant decreases of pO(2) were detected in the haemolymph of ammonia-exposed crabs. These changes suggest that the observed histopathological damage affected gas exchange, possibly leading to death.
authors.affiliation: Dept. Ciências Fisiologicas, Lab. Zoofisiologia, Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, CP 474, Rio Grande, RS, 91206-900, Brazil. mrebel@biof.ufrj.br
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Freitas Rebelo
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ansaldo
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D005740:Gases / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005880:Gills / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D014873:Water Pollutants; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D019344:Lactic Acid; D000641:Ammonia; D010100:Oxygen