Histopathological changes in nucleus preopticus of Heteropneustes fossilis exposed to lead acetate and its amelioration with Ocimum sanctum and Curcuma longa

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the toxic effect of lead acetate (5ppm) on NPO in stinging catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis for a period of 21 days under laboratory conditions. The most common resultant changes in NPO of fish to lead acetate were vacuolization, clumping of cytoplasm, loss of staining affinity, hypertrophy, reduced neurosecretory material and degeneration as compared to control group. The fishes exposed to lead acetate along with tulsi and turmeric showed recovery in their nuclei, reduced hypertrophy and vacuolization, indicating their protective effects against Pb toxicity.