The Effects of Water Soluble Fractions of Crude Oil on The Intestine and Liver of Pelvicachromis pulcher (Boulenger, 1901) (Cichlidae, Teleostei)

In order to make a contribution to displaying of the harmful effects of the petrochemical production processes to our health and environment, it has been investigated the histopathological changes obseved in the intestine and hepatic tissues of Pelvicachromis pulcher, a teleost fish, after a 15-day exposure to 40% sublethal concentrations of the water-soluble fractions of crude oil, by light microscopy. Several histological alterations such as prominent ulceration, desquamation, lymphocyte infiltration and necrosis, were noted for the intestinal tissue of the crude oil exposed animals when compared with controls. The liver was also shown marked deformative changes identified as steatozis, hemorrhage, dilatation of sinusoids and pronounced hepatocellular degeneration which was specially characterized pyknotic and karyorrhetic nuclei. It was concluded that the water soluble fractions of crude oil was drastically effected both of the tissues studied, as expected.