Histological Alterations in Gills of Cyprinus carpio in Response to Copper Toxicity and its Impact on its Behavior

Heavy metals contamination are becoming more common in India and aboard. copper has induced adverse effects on the environment and public health due to continuous and widespread use for the last several decades. This study aimed to assess the behavioral and histopathological alterations in the gill of common carp, Cyprinus carpio exposed to sub lethal concentration of copper sulphate. Cyprinus carpio (n=80) having total body length ranging between 12cm-15cm and body weight 96gm-113gm, Fishes of control and experimental groups (1.0 mg/L, 2.0mg/L and 2.5mg/L) were sacrificed at 0 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days and 28 days and then processed for histopathological tests. The fish showed hyperactive and abnormal behavioral pattern like erratic swimming, air gulping, schooling, imbalance equilibrium and body posture, increased surface activity, rapid opercular movements and excess amount of mucus secretion over the body. The most prominent alterations recorded in the gill histology such as, Oedema, hyperplasia, hypertrophy, tip ruptured, curling tip, clubbed of tip, Epithelium lifting, swollen mucus cell, epithelium raptured, shaft brakeage and Lamellar disorganization, infiltration and necrosis in copper treated group. This work mainly emphasizes about copper, its chemical nature and evaluation of the adverse effects of its compounds and the physiological and histological action of the toxicant helps to predict important sub-lethal effects on the fresh water fish Cyprinus carpio.