Scanning Electron Microscopic study of erythrocytes of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) exposed to cadmium and copper

Erythrocyte morphology is one of the most sensitive indicators of toxic impact of various environmental factors on fish. Present investigation deals with the assessment of deleterious effects of heavy metals, cadmium and copper on the structural alterations of RBCs of a freshwater air-breathing catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch). On exposure of the fish to the toxicant at concentrations of cadmium (2.4 ppm) and copper (0.3 ppm) for a period of 30 days, the erythrocytes exhibited marked alterations in structure such as lobopodial projections, shrinkage of cell membrane and clumping of cells. Different types of alterations observed were echinocytes, spherocytes, acanthocytes, crenated, rhomboidal and racket shaped cells. The cellular damage of fish erythrocytes on treatment with cadmium and copper lead to physiological malfunctioning and hence RBCs SEM study might be utilized as a sensitive indicator of metal pollution.