| APOPTOSIS AND PROLIFERATION IN THE GUT AND GILL EPITHILIUM OF Liza aurata FROM POLLUTED BRACKISH WATER
Ferrando S.*, Mauceri A.*, Ferrando T., Fasulo S.* and Tagliafierro G.
Dipartimento di Biologia Sperimentale, Ambientale e Applicata (DIBISAA), University of Genova and *Dipartimento di Biologia Animale ed Ecologia Marina, University of Messina, Italy
Heavy metal pollution is a well known important causative factor of intestinal and branchial damage: The epithelia often detached from the basal lamina and the lamina propria appears looser, hyperaemic and infiltrated with leucocytes. In the present research we investigate the effects of heavy metal exposure on cell apoptosis and proliferation of the gut and gill epithelial in the mugil Liza aurata from the brackish lagoons of Faro and Ganzirri (Messina). As a control, specimens of Liza aurata from the non polluted brackish lagoon of Marinello (Messina) were also studied. Dewaxed sections from paraformaldehyde fixed samples were treated by the TUNEL method to detect apoptotic nuclei and immunostained with anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antiserum to detect mitosis undergoing cells. The results obtained in fish from polluted area showed an increased number of apoptotic nuclei, not only located along the intestinal folds, or branchial lamellae, but also at the base, in the proliferative zone. The latter zone is more extented in the gut, interesting both the bottom and the base of intestinal folds. No apototic cells were seen in the gut of control fish, while a few of them were detected at the apex of gill lamellae. Our data put in evidence that in the fishes from natural polluted areas the reparative processes are enhanced for the maintenance of gut correct functions.
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