Morphological alterations in the liver of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) from a biological mercury hotspot

Müller, Anne-Katrin; Brinkmann, Markus; Baumann, Lisa Annie; Stoffel, Michael Hubert; Segner, Helmut; Kidd, Karen A; Hollert, Henner (2015). Morphological alterations in the liver of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) from a biological mercury hotspot. Environmental science and pollution research, 22(22), pp. 17330-17342. Springer 10.1007/s11356-015-4177-4

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Mercury (Hg) contamination is a global issue due to its anthropogenic release, long-range transport, and deposition in remote areas. In Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, Nova Scotia, Canada, high concentrations of total mercury (THg) were found in tissues of yellow perch (Perca flavescens). The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible relationship between THg concentrations and the morphology of perch liver as a main site of metal storage and toxicity. Yellow perch were sampled from five lakes known to contain fish representing a wide range in Hg concentrations in fall 2013. The ultrastructure of hepatocytes and the distribution of Hg within the liver parenchyma were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron energy loss spectrometry (EELS). The relative area of macrophage aggregates (MAs) in the liver was determined using image analysis software and fluorescence microscopy. No relation between general health indicators (Fulton's condition index) and THg was observed. In line with this, TEM examination of the liver ultrastructure revealed no prominent pathologies related to THg accumulation. However, a morphological parameter that appeared to increase with muscle THg was the relative area of MAs in the liver. The hepatic lysosomes appeared to be enlarged in samples with the highest THg concentrations. Interestingly, EELS analysis revealed that the MAs and hepatic lysosomes contained Hg.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health (DCR-VPH) > Veterinary Anatomy
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP)
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health (DCR-VPH)
09 Interdisciplinary Units > Microscopy Imaging Center (MIC)
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP) > Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI)

UniBE Contributor:

Müller, Anne-Katrin, Baumann, Lisa Annie, Stoffel, Michael Hubert, Segner, Helmut

Subjects:

500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology
500 Science > 590 Animals (Zoology)
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0944-1344

Publisher:

Springer

Language:

English

Submitter:

Miriam Francine Heinzelmann

Date Deposited:

18 Aug 2015 11:47

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:48

Publisher DOI:

10.1007/s11356-015-4177-4

PubMed ID:

25936831

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.70587

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/70587

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