Oxidative Stress and Toxico-Pathic Branchial Lesions in Cyprinus carpio Exposed to Malachite Green

Gill is the frontier tissue to come in direct contact with aquatic toxicants. Malachite green (MG) commercial textile dye was assessed for its impact on the gill cytoarchitecture. Cyprinus carpio were exposed to 0.087 and 0.146 mg/L of MG for 60 days. The tissue was processed, and HE stained slides revealed histo-pathic lesions such as lamellar curling, edema, necrosis, telangiectasia, aneurysm, and vacuolization. Scanning electron microscopy reported aberrations in lamellae and microridges of the epithelium. At the cellular level, transmission electron microscopy exhibited nuclear alterations in form of pyknosis and mitochondrial swelling followed by cristolysis. Pillar cells displayed cytoplasmic vacuolization and leukocyte infiltration, and goblet cell containing varied shaped and density mucous globules. The biochemical analysis supported the ultrastructural alterations and showed a negative impact of MG on the antioxidative enzymes (CAT, SOD, GSH), while levels of MDA were found to be significantly elevated. Thereby, concluding MG induced branchial toxicity in the fish.