Effect of cadmium chloride and ascorbic acid exposure on the vital organs of freshwater Cyprinid, Labeo rohita

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the impact of sub lethal concentrations of heavy metal, cadmium 
chloride (CdCl2.H2O), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and their combination on Labeo rohita. The effect was investigated on 
the basis of histopathological examinations of control and experimental groups exposed to heavy metal. The acute 
semi statistical toxicity test for L. rohita revealed 96 h LC50 value 22.92 mg L-1 for cadmium chloride (CdCl2.H2O). 215 
fingerlings of L. rohita were exposed to three different experimental conditions for 96 h: 11.46 mg L-1 CdCl2.H2O, or 450 
mg Kg -1 ascorbic acid or combination of both these doses. No alterations were observed in gill sections upon 
comparison between treated and untreated groups. Congestion in sinusoids, fatty change, an increase in Kupffer cells 
and intrahepatic lymphocytes was observed in CdCl2.H2O treated group. In kidney sections of heavy metal treated 
group, degeneration of the glomerular tissue, occlusion in tubular lumen and necrosis were observed. Similar changes 
but in less severe form, as described above, were observed in the fish exposed to combination of CdCl2.H2O and 
ascorbic indicating that ascorbic acid do detoxify the effect of heavy metal to some extant. Our results indicate that 
cadmium chloride (CdCl2.H2O), if present in fresh water bodies, may act as strong toxic agent for L. rohita.