Effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the gill, liver and kidney tissues of beijupiras, Rachicentron canadum (Linnaeus, 1766)

• Grant number: 11/18220-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2011
• End date: November 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: José Roberto Machado Cunha da Silva
• Grantee: Juliana Cristina Teixeira de Moraes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Because of its predominance in the composition of oil, hydrocarbons are used as indicators of environmental pollution since aquatic organisms can absorb them by drinking water or by tissues such as gills, liver and cephalic kidney which become target organs to the action of PAHs existing in the aquatic environment. So these organs can show various levels of biological organization, including structural change. These biological answers to stress caused by pollutants can be used to find early signs of damage to fish and can be named biomarkers. With this in mind, this study aims to evaluate and compare the sublethal effects of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in gill, liver and kidney tissues of marine fish species Rachycentron canadum. There will be evaluated histological changes, which will get important pathological factors according to their reversibility. Studies to determine histological changes in target organs by the action of PAHs should be conducted to predict the impact on fish populations (AU)