Salient Alterations in Hepatic and Renal Histomorphology ... · Labeo bata is a species of freshwater Indian minor ... Bangladesh and Myanmar. This species is very ... available in

IJEES 03|Volume 1|Issue 1|2015

The International Journal of Earth & Environmental Sciences

Research Article

Salient Alterations in Hepatic and Renal Histomorphology of an Indian Minor Carp, Labeo bata (Hamilton, 1822) Owing to ZnS Nanoparticle Induced Hypoxia and Environmental Acidification

Nilanjana Chatterjee1, Baibaswata Bhattacharjee

2

1Department of Zoology, Ramananda College, Bishnupur-722122, Bankura, India

2Department of Physics, Ramananda College, Bishnupur-722122, Bankura, India

Correspondence should be addressed to Baibaswata Bhattacharjee

Received May 18, 2015; Accepted July 03, 2015; Published July 06, 2015; Copyright: © 2015 Nilanjana Chatterjee et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution

License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly

cited.

ABSTRACT Due to enhanced surface photo-oxidation property of ZnS in its nanoparticle form, the dissolved oxygen content and pH value of water was found to reduce in a dose dependent manner from their normal values, when ZnS nanoparticles of different sizes are exposed to the water in various concentrations. This property was more prominent for ZnS nanoparticles with smaller sizes. Labeo bata, exposed to ZnS nanoparticles, responded to hypoxia with varied behavioural, physiological and cellular responses in order to maintain homeostasis and organ function in an oxygen-depleted environment. Due to the minimization of food uptake, the hepatic cells of L. bata were found to shrink and empty spaces generated in between them as they used storage deposit to maintain the metabolic activity of the fish. The kidneys of the exposed fishes showed shrinkage of glomerulus and dilution of tubular lumen due to reduction in glomerular filtration rate in oxygen depleted atmosphere. Vacuolization and hyaline degeneration of tubular epithelium were also seen in the renal histomorphology of L. bata when the exposure time exceeded 6 days.

KEY WORDS: ZnS nanoparticles; Photo-oxidation; Hepatocytes; Renal histomorphology; Morphometry

INTRODUCTION

Snowballing of nanotechnology and mounting uses of

nanoparticles in sundry fields of sciences [1-3] have

increased considerably the probability that the

nanoparticles would end up in water courses either as

chemical, medical, industrial or domestic wastes. ZnS

nanoparticles (NPs) are one of such materials that can be

found in the wastes of cosmetic, pharmaceutical and

rubber industries. Apart from the various physiological

disorders due to direct uptake of nanoparticles by the

aquatic animals through different parts of their body [4-

10], ZnS nanoparticles are expected to exhibit some

passive effects on aquatic environment by changing

important physicochemical parameters of water due to its

property of surface photo-oxidation [11]. Due to enhanced

surface photo-oxidation property of ZnS in its

nanoparticle form, the dissolved oxygen content in water

is found to reduce in a dose dependent manner from their

normal values, when ZnS nanoparticles of different sizes

are exposed to the water in various concentrations [8, 11-

12]. This property is more prominent for ZnS

nanoparticles with smaller sizes. Consequently under the

exposure of ZnS NPs, the aquatic fauna of that

Open Access Scientific Publisher www.advancejournals.org

Cite This Article: Chatterjee, N., Bhattacharjee, B. (2015). Salient alterations in hepatic and renal histomorphology of an Indian

minor carp, Labeo bata (Hamilton, 1822) owing to ZnS nanoparticle induced hypoxia and environmental acidification. The

International Journal of Earth & Enviromental Sciences 1(1). 1-9

1



particular habitat are forced to live in an oxygen depleted

atmosphere [8, 11-12]. When living in a habitat with low

level of dissolved oxygen, fish respond to hypoxia with

varied behavioural, physiological, and cellular responses

in order to maintain homeostasis and organ function in an

oxygen-depleted environment [13-19].

Fish is one of the major sources of edible protein

in India. Therefore, its reproduction has acquired prime

importance to the investigators working in this area.

Labeo bata is a species of freshwater Indian minor carp,

found mainly in the rivers of India, Bangladesh and

Myanmar. This species is very common, easy to cultivate

and an important target species for the small-scale

fishermen. Though this fish species has a high nutritional

value in terms of protein and micronutrients, yet it is

available in a relatively cheaper price in the fish market

compared to some other fishes having equivalent

nutritional values. These reasons make L. bata a very

attractive candidate for aquaculture in the South East Asia.

The aim of our present study is to monitor

systematically the adverse effect of ZnS NPs on

histomorphology of liver and kidney of L. bata. This will

also help to realise how the growth and maturity of the

fish are being hampered when exposed to ZnS NPs. The

changing behaviour in growth and maturity of any

member of an aquatic environment due to exposure of

nanoparticles may cause an adverse effect on the aquatic

ecosystem as a whole. In the present case, it also has its

detrimental effect on the commercial market of this fish.

EXPERIMENTAL

Synthesis and characterization of ZnS nanoparticles

ZnS NPs were synthesized employing simple wet

chemical method as described by Chen et al. [20]. After

synthesis the nanoparticles were characterized through

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Particle size

analysis (PSA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) study, Energy

dispersive X-ray (EDX) study and X-ray photo electron

spectroscopy (XPS) study. The process of synthesis and

characterization procedures of the ZnS NPs were

described in detail elsewhere [8, 12]. Different

characterization techniques ascertained undoubtedly that

stoichiometric, spherical ZnS nanoparticles of different

sizes (3 nm, 7 nm, 12 nm and 20 nm) were acquired under

different experimental conditions of synthesis technique

[12].

Fish husbandry

Matured L. bata specimens of both sex groups

caught by means of traditional fishing gear cast net and

conical trap during daytime (10:00-15:00 hours) in

monthly basis from different places of Hooghly and

Bankura districts of West Bengal, India, were collected

from the local fishermen during the period of September,

2011 to August, 2013. Immediately after collection, fishes

were kept in watertight containers containing tap water

that has been allowed to stand for a few days. A good

supply of necessary oxygen was provided by using a large

shallow tank to ensure that a large surface area of water

was exposed to the air. Fishes were maintained at 25°-

30°C of temperature to ensure the natural environment.

The fishes were fed on natural fish foods. Small, regular

supplies of food were provided. The fishes were filtered

out in every 10 days and are placed in fresh water.

Histology and histometry

To study the hepatic and renal histology, liver

and kidney tissues were dissected out and cut into small

pieces for preservation in Bouin’s fixative for 18 hours.

The tissues were then dehydrated through ethanol,

C2H5OH (GR, Merck India) dried over activated

molecular sieve zeolite 4A, cleared in xylene and

embedded in paraffin of melting point 56°-58°C. Thin

sections of 4 µm thicknesses were cut using a rotary

microtome machine. The sections were stained with

Delafield’s Haematoxylin and Eosin stain and were

observed under a compound light microscope of high

resolution and eventually photographed with a digital

camera attached to the microscope.

The morphometry of hepatic and renal tissues

were done using reticulo micrometer and ocular

micrometer attached to the compound light microscope.

Each measurement was made four times and their mean

value was used for any analysis.

Toxicity test

Fish specimens were exposed to six

concentrations (σ = 100, 200, 250, 500, 750 and 1000

μg/L) of the ZnS nanoparticles of different sizes (3 nm, 7

nm, 12 nm and 20 nm) for 6 days. Trials were conducted

at various concentrations to observe the impact of ZnS

nanoparticles on L. bata liver and kidney, comparing the

hepatic and renal histomorphology of the exposed fishes

to that of the fishes lived in controlled conditions.

Electronic lab meters with accuracy up to one decimal

point were used to measure the dissolved oxygen content

and pH of the water.

Statistical analysis

All data were expressed as means ± SE. One-way

analysis of variance was run to compare the differences

between groups treated under different experimental

conditions and control groups. Differences were

considered statistically significant when p < 0.05.

Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to

determine the correlation, if any, between different hepatic

and renal morphometric parameters and nanoparticle

concentrations and exposure times at a significance level

of 5%. Negative r values prefixed by negative (-) sign and

2



positive values without any prefix are used in the

manuscript. Curve fitting to the experimentally obtained

data was done using the software Origin 9.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

ZnS NP induced hypoxia and environmental

acidification

In the present study, the dissolved oxygen

content in water (DO2) was measured to be 13.2 mg/L at

15°C before any nanoparticle was introduced in it. This

value was found to decrease both with increasing

nanoparticle concentration as well as nanoparticle

exposure time in water at the same temperature. The value

of dissolved oxygen content in water reached to as low as

3.9 mg/L for nanoparticles of size 3 nm at a concentration

of 1000 μg/L and exposure time of 6 days.

The photo-oxidation of the surface of ZnS NPs

using the dissolved oxygen of water under sunlight and

consequent reduction of dissolved oxygen content in water

has been confirmed from detailed study of S 2p core level

X ray photoelectron spectra of ZnS nanoparticles after

different time of exposures [12]. During the surface photo-

oxidation process of ZnS NPs, The S atoms exposed to the

ZnS surface got oxidized and an increase in concentration

of chemisorbed SO2 at ZnS surface with increasing

exposure time was observed in the samples [12]. The

oxide leaves the surface as a molecular species (SO2),

leaving Zn and a freshly exposed layer of ZnS behind.

Water may dissolve a part of the SO2 released in the

process causing reduction in the pH value of the water

[11]. Subsequently under the exposure of ZnS NPs, the

aquatic fauna of that particular habitat were forced to live

in an oxygen depleted and acidified atmosphere [8, 11-

12].

In the present study, the pH value of water was

found to decrease when exposed to ZnS NPs in a dose

dependent manner for a fixed exposure time of 6 days. In

controlled condition the pH value of the water used in this

experiment was measured to be 7.6. This value was found

to decrease both with increasing nanoparticle

concentration as well as nanoparticle exposure time in

water for a fixed nanoparticle size. The rate of reduction

in pH value was found to be higher for the nanoparticles

with smaller sizes. In our experiment, the pH value of

water dwindled down to 4.8 for nanoparticle concentration

(σ) of 1000 μg/L with size (d) 3 nm and exposure time (t)

of 6 days. Reduction of water pH and consequent

acidification of the environment finally lead the fishes to

metabolic acidosis.

After the exposure of the ZnS NPs in the water,

the Zn/S ratio in the nanoparticles was found to rise over

that of the stoichiometric value of the freshly prepared

samples confirming the loss of S from the surface of the

nanoparticles. Surfaces of the ZnS NPs, exposed to water

and light, were thus effectively destroyed by the redox

cycles and resulted in the reduction of the dissolved

oxygen content and pH value of water. This property was

found to be more prominent for ZnS NPs with smaller

sizes. This observation could be explained by the fact that

smaller particle size culminated higher surface to volume

ratio of the nanoparticles present in the water. Therefore,

ZnS NPs having smaller sizes offered greater surface area,

making the particles more sensitive to surface photo-

oxidation process. This lead to a faster deficit in dissolved

oxygen content and reduction in pH values when exposed

to water compared to the samples having larger particle

sizes.

Hepatic histology

The liver cell structure of teleosts responds very

sensitively to environmental changes, e.g. in temperature,

season, feeding conditions or presence of various

chemicals in the water [21]. Therefore, liver histology can

be used as an indicator to show the harmful effect of ZnS

NPs on L. bata. Figure 1(a) shows the in situ position of

liver in a female L. bata.

Figure 1 (b) shows the histomorphology of L.

bata liver in controlled condition portraying the liver cells

in normal and healthy states. In this figure, liver cells are

found to be large with regular outlines. These cells are

dominated by storage deposits. The nuclei are found to be

large and centrally located indicating the normal condition

of the cells. The cells are found to be in close contact,

almost no empty space is found between the cells.

Figures 1(c)-1(e) show the effect of increasing

nanoparticle concentration on the liver histology of L.

bata. For exposure to ZnS concentration of 100µg/L

(Figure 1c), few cells are found to be in degenerating

states without a prominent nucleus and having diffused

cytoplasmic contents. For higher concentration of ZnS

nanoparticles (σ = 500 μg/L), decrease in cell sizes due to

drastic loss of storage deposits is observed (Figure 1d).

Therefore, the relative share of nucleus in cell volume is

strongly increased. The cells are found to be in increasing

isolated states having no close contact between them

(Figure 1d). Under high concentration exposure (σ = 1000

μg/L) of smaller ZnS nanoparticles (d = 3 nm), some of

the fish livers also show disruption of hepatic cell cords

and apoptotic changes such as chromatin condensation

and pyknosis as indicated by arrows in figures (Figure 1e).

The histological alterations are more pronounced for

exposure to nanoparticles of smaller sizes. This

observation can be associated with the increasing surface

reactivity of the nanoparticles with decreasing size. The

observation is similar for male L. bata.

3



Figure 1: (a) Exposed thoracic and abdominal cavity of the female Labeo bata, showing the position of liver in situ in

the thoracic region. Photomicrographs showing the liver histology of female L. bata under (b) controlled condition, (c)

exposure to ZnS NP concentration of σ = 100 μg/L for 6 days, d = 3 nm, (d) exposure to ZnS NP concentration of σ =

500 μg/L for 6 days, d = 3 nm and (e) exposure to ZnS NP concentration of σ = 1000 μg/L for 6 days, d = 3 nm. In this

case, livers tissues showed disruption of hepatic cell cords and apoptotic changes such as chromatin condensation and

pyknosis as indicated by green block arrows in figure. [hepatocytes (hc), fat vacuoles (fv-white block arrows), blood

vessels (Bv), empty space generated due to apoptosis ( ) and blood cells (Bc)].

4

200 μm 200 μm

200 μm 200 μm



Nanoparticle

size (d) (nm)

δ0 (μm) α (μm) τ (μg/L) Reduced

χ2

3 9.380 11.103 167.134 1.540

7 10.060 10.296 211.027 1.405

12 14.247 6.138 237.224 0.438

20 14.564 5.798 355.829 0.275

Hepatic morphometry

Figure 2: Variation of the hepatic cell diameters (δ)

against increasing nanoparticle concentrations (σ) with

correspondingly fitted first order exponential decay

curves for nanoparticles of different sizes (d) having fixed

exposure time (t) of 6 days in female L. bata

Figure 2 shows the change in the values hepatic

cell diameter (δ) for female fishes with increasing

nanoparticle concentration (σ) for nanoparticles of

different sizes (d) used, when the exposure time is fixed (t

= 6 days). δ values are found to decrease with increase in

σ value up to 500μg/L for every size of the nanoparticles

(d) used and a fixed (t = 6 days) exposure time. Beyond

this concentration, this value remains nearly constant.

Strong negative correlation (r = - 0.798) is obtained

between δ and σ for constant d (3 nm) and t (6 days).

Analysis of covariance reveals significant differences

between the δ values (p < 0.001) for nanoparticle

exposures of different concentrations.

A significant negative correlation (r = - 0.902) is

revealed between NP exposure time and hepatosite sizes

(σ = 500 μg/L, d = 3 nm) during the toxicity test. Also a

significant negative correlation (r = - 0.843) can be

demonstrated between exposure time and hepatosite

density for a fixed nanoparticle concentration (σ = 500

μg/L, d = 3 nm). The percentage of empty space in the

hepatic tissue lay out is found to increase (r = 0.712) with

increasing exposure time for a fixed concentration of ZnS

NP (σ = 500 μg/L, d = 3 nm). These observations become

more prominent with decreasing nanoparticle sizes.

Similar type of qualitative variation is found in liver

histomorphology of male L. bata.

Data presented in figure 2 are fitted well to the

first order exponential decay curves represented by the

following equation

⁄

where δ0, α and τ were the fitting parameters for the

family of curves shown in figure 2. δ0 corresponded to the

extrapolated value of hepatic cell diameter (δ) if the

nanoparticle concentration (σ) reached infinity. The

inverse of τ values determined the slopes of the fitted

curves. Table I portrays the fitting parameters for the

curves depicting the changes in the values of hepatic cell

diameter (δ) with increasing nanoparticle concentration

(σ) for nanoparticles of different sizes (d) having fixed

exposure time of 6 days in female L. bata. From the slope

of the curves, it can be established undoubtedly that the

detrimental effect was stronger for particles with smaller

sizes.

Table I

Fitting parameters for the curves depicting the changes in

the values of hepatic cell diameter (δ) with increasing


different sizes (d) having fixed exposure time of 6 days in

female L. bata

These observations of alterations in hepatic

histomorphology are indicative of degradation of liver

cells under nanoparticle exposure. It has been reported

that hypoxia can induce varied behavioural, physiological,

and cellular responses among fishes [13-19]. Asian dwarf

striped catfish Mystus vittatus is found to minimize their

food intake when exposed to ZnS NP induced hypoxia

[12]. Similar pattern of altered feeding behaviour can be

noticed in L. bata in the present study. Due to the

minimization of food intake under nanoparticle exposure,

the hepatic cells of the fish are found to shrink and empty

spaces generated in between them as they use the storage

in the hepatocytes and fat vacuoles to maintain the

metabolic activities in this adverse condition. These

effects can be associated directly with the changing

feeding behaviour, which in turn made a detrimental effect

on growth, maturity and spawning of the fish.

Renal histomorphology

The kidney is a complex organ made up of

thousands of repeating units called nephrons, each with

the structure of a bent tube. Blood pressure forces the fluid

in blood to pass a filter, called the glomerulus, situated at

the top of each nephron. In L. bata two elongated kidneys

0 200 400 600 800 1000 12008

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

Hep

ato

cyte

dia

metr

e ()

(m

)

ZnS NP concentration () (g/L)

3 nm

7 nm

12 nm

20 nm

5



Figure 3: (a) Exposed thoracic and abdominal cavity of the female Labeo bata, showing the position of kidney in situ in

the abdominal region. Photomicrographs showing the renal histology of female L. bata under (b) controlled condition,

(c) for exposure to ZnS NP concentration of σ= 100 μg/L, (d) for exposure to ZnS NP concentration of σ= 500 μg/L and

(e) for exposure to ZnS NP concentration of σ= 1000 μg/L [glomerulus (yellow arrow), Bowman’s capsule (Bc) and

collecting tubules (ct)].

are of mesonephric type. Figure 3(a) shows the position of

the kidneys in female L. bata. Figures 3(b)-3(e) show the

renal histomorphology of L. bata under exposure of ZnS

NPs of different concentrations having size (d) of 3 nm for

fixed exposure time (t) of 6 days. The histomorphology of

the controlled kidney tissues exhibit an ordinary pattern of

renal corpuscles (consisting of glomerulus and Bowman’s

capsule) and collecting tubules with no abnormalities in

any other part of the renal cellular lay out as shown in

figure 3(b). When the fishes are exposed to relatively

lower concentration of ZnS NPs (σ ≤ 200 μg/L), the

kidneys of the fishes show shrinkage in glomerulus and

6



Nanoparticle

size (d) (nm)

D (μm) A (μm) T (μg/L) Reduced

χ2

3 49.167 48.063 500.844 0.185

7 57.468 38.327 665.272 0.492

12 59.257 36.869 911.404 0.105

20 56.990 39.477 1393.630 0.071

dilution of tubular lumen. For exposure to moderate value

of ZnS NPs (σ = 250 μg/L), significant decrease in

glomerular size (p < 0.001) and density (p < 0.001) are

observed in the renal tissues of the exposed fishes (Fig.

3c) compared to that of the controlled fish. For exposure

to relatively higher concentration of ZnS NPs (σ = 500

μg/L), significant decrease in the number density

(p<0.001) of collecting tubules was noticed in addition to

the previous observations (Fig. 3d). Exposure to even

higher concentration of ZnS NPs (σ ≥ 750μg/L), results in

vacuolization in renal cell lay out and hyaline

degeneration of tubular epithelium. After exposure to the

highest ZnS NP concentration (σ = 1000 μg/L) used in the

experiment, necrosis and dispersed inter renal cells with

pyknosis of some nuclei are observed (Fig. 3e) in L. Bata.

Renal morphometry

Figure 4 shows the change in the values

glomerular diameter (D) for female fishes with increasing


different sizes (d) used, when the exposure time is fixed (t

= 6 days). D values are found to decrease gradually with

increase in σ values within the experimental limit for

every size of the nanoparticles (d) used and for a fixed

exposure time (t = 6 days). Strong negative correlation (r

= -0.892) was obtained between D and σ for constant d (3

nm) and t (6 days). Analysis of covariance reveals

significant differences between the D values (p < 0.001)

for nanoparticle exposures of different concentrations.

Figure 4: Variation of the glomerular diameters (D) with

increasing nanoparticle concentrations (σ) with

correspondingly fitted first order exponential decay

curves for nanoparticles of different sizes (d) having fixed

exposure time (t) of 6 days in female L. bata.

A significant negative correlation (r = - 0.882) is

revealed between NP exposure time and glomerulus size

during the toxicity test, but no significant correlation can

be demonstrated between exposure time and glomerulus

density for fixed nanoparticle concentration. The lumen

diameter of the collecting tubules is found to decrease (r =

- 0.704) and increase in muscular wall thickness (r =

0.801) is observed with increasing exposure time for a

fixed concentration of ZnS NP. Other time dependent

histomorphological alterations in renal tissues is not quite

prominent for relatively lower concentration of ZnS NPs

(σ < 500 μg/L). When the exposure time exceeds 6 days

for higher concentrations (σ ≥ 500 μg/L) of ZnS NPs,

glomerular vacuolization and hyaline degeneration of

tubular epithelium were seen in the renal histomorphology

of L. bata. Similar qualitative variation was found for

male L. bata.

Data of figure 4 are fitted well to the first order

exponential decay curves represented by the equation

⁄ Where D0, A and T are the fitting parameters as shown in

table II for the family of curves shown in figure 4. D0

corresponded to the extrapolated value of glomerular

diameter (D) if the nanoparticle concentration (σ) reached

infinity. The inverse of T values determined the slopes of

the fitted curves. From the slope of the curves, it can be

recognized indisputably that the harmful effect of ZnS

NPs was sturdier for particles with smaller sizes.

Table II

Fitting parameters for the curves depicting the changes in

the values of glomerular diameter (D) with increasing


different sizes (d) having fixed exposure time of 6 days in

female L. bata

Ammonia is the primary metabolic waste product

of most fishes including teleosts [22, 23]. Teleost

freshwater fishes occupy an environment that is hypotonic

relative to their tissues and, as a result, experience passive

ion loss mainly across the gills [24, 25]. As the loss of

ionic homeostasis can lead to severe metabolic

impairment [26-28], teleost fishes employ mechanisms to

actively take up ions, namely Na+ and Cl

-, by reabsorbing

ions across the nephron tubules, from the glomerular

filtrate back into the blood. In addition, they actively

transport ions across their gill surfaces from the

surrounding water into the blood.

Hofmann and Butler [29] reported that there

exists significant positive correlation between glomerular

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

50

60

70

80

90

100

3 nm

Glo

meru

lar d

iam

ete

r (

D)

(m

)

ZnS NP concentration () (g/L)

7 nm

12 nm

20 nm

7



filtration rate and urine flow rate in rainbow trout, Salmo

gairdneri. Glomerular filtration rate also showed linear

relationship with oxygen consumption rate of the fishes.

In the present work, ZnS NP induced hypoxia forced the

fishes to lower their oxygen consumption rate for their

metabolic activities. This is supposed to reduce the

glomerular filtration rate as well as urine flow of L. bata

under exposure to ZnS NPs. This can be attributed to the

reduction in glomerular size and density of the exposed

fishes as revealed from the histological micrographs.

Acidification of the environment due to photo

oxidation of ZnS NPs resulted in the enhancement of

water H+ levels under experimental conditions. When L.

bata were exposed to this water, the existence of H+

gradient from water to blood generated the situation of

metabolic acidosis in the fishes reducing the blood pH

level. In fish, metabolic acidosis stimulates an elevation in

ammonia excretion at both the renal [30-34] and branchial

[30, 31] epithelia, presumably as a means of facilitating

acid-base regulation. Reduction in water pH had been

resulted in a significant decrease in blood pH, a large

reduction in plasma HCO3 levels, a severe impairment of

swimming ability and an increase in Na+ influx in a teleost

fish Oreochromis alcalicus grahami [35].

In the present study changes in plasma acid-base

status and ionic composition along with the oxidative

stress generated by ZnS NP induced hypoxia are supposed

to induce the altered metabolic function in L. bata. This

consequently reformed the renal activity leading to the

other salient changes in renal histomorphology.

CONCLUSION

Indian minor carp Labeo bata suffered from

salient alterations in hepatic and renal histomorphology

owing to ZnS NP induced hypoxia and environmental

acidification. Due to the minimization of food intake

under nanoparticle exposure, the hepatic cells of the fish

were found to reduce in sizes generating empty spaces in

between them as they used the storage in the hepatocytes

and fat vacuoles to maintain the metabolic activities of the

fishes in this hostile condition. Onset of metabolic

acidosis in the fishes as a consequence of the

environmental acidification due to the photo oxidation of

ZnS NPs resulted in the elevation in ammonia excretion at

the renal epithelia. Under the combined effect of

acidification and oxidative stress generated by ZnS NP in

the habitat, L. bata were supposed to induce the altered

metabolic function. As a result of this reformed the renal

activity, salient changes in renal histomorphology were

observed.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors wish to thank the authority of

Ramananda College for providing some of the

experimental facilities.

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