African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (24), pp. 2480-2487, 16 December 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Histopathological responses of the gill and liver tissues of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings to herbicide, glyphosate

OLURIN, K.B.¹, OLOJO, E.A.A.¹*, MBAKA, G.O.² and AKINDELE, A.T.¹

Department of Plant Science and Applied Zoology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, P.M.B. 2002, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria.

¹Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, P.M.B. 2002, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author E-mail: emmanuelolojo@yahoo.co.uk.

Accepted 30 June, 2006

African catfish, Clarias gariepinus fingerlings were exposed to sub lethal concentrations of herbicide, glyphosate (0, 0.05, 0.1%, v/v) over 42 days period. The gills showed marked alterations in the epithelia in response to glyphosate treatment. There was fusion in adjacent secondary lamella resulting in hyperplasia, with profound oedematous changes, characterised by epithelial detachment. In the liver, the enlargement of the hepatocytes was related to the concentration and duration of exposure to the glyphosate. There were also large vacuoles in the hepatocytes, with pyknotic nuclei, and cytolysis that increased with concentration. Focal necrosis was also observed in the hepatocytes. It was concluded that glyphosate has a deleterious effect on the organs of C. gariepinus.

Key words:  Histopathology, Clarias gariepinus, Glyphosate, gill, liver.