Effect of Cr(VI) on nucleolar activity in liver cells of Odontesthes bonariensis (Pisces).

CARRIQUIRIBORDE P.; DULOUT F.N.; RONCO A.E.

Journal of Applied Biological Sciences

Año: 2000 vol. 6 p. 57 - 65

1341-5573

The present study evaluates the temporal response of nucleolar activity in liver cells of organisms exposed in the laboratory to a 1 mg/L Cr(VI) concentration with respect to a control population. Tests were performed using fish fry of the local freshwater species Odontesthes bonariensis. Organisms from exposed and non-exposed groups were sampled at different intervals ranging from 30 to 240 min. Cytological slides of liver tissue were made by air-drying technique and stained with AgN03. Nucleoli area was measured using the software “Image-Pro”. The assessed end points were mean total nucleoli area and mean nucleoli number per cell for each individual. Mean total nucleolar area shows a rapid response after 60 min exposure. In contrast, the nucleolar number shows significant differences between treated organisms and control group, only after 240 min exposure. Reduction in nucleolar activeity could be associated to a possible induction of some type of genomic instability affecting protein synthesis.