Gut morphology and metallothionein immunoreactivity in Liza aurata from different heavy metal polluted environments

Abstract

A critical analysis was made as to whether changes in morphology and histomorphology of fish intestinal mucosa could be appropriate for rapid application in field monitoring programs for heavy metal pollution. Equivalent gut samples of the gold grey mullet Liza aurata from different polluted environments were simultaneously treated using morphological, histomorphological and immunohistochemical methods. The morphological aspects of the mucosal folds and the characteristics of the mucous goblet cells seemed to vary according to the environmental pollution, as well as to the presence and distribution of metallothionein immunoreactivity. On the basis of these findings, the use of the gut fold morphology test is suggested as an expertise-independent, cost-effective and rapid prognostic biomarker for field heavy metal monitoring programs. © 2006 Unione Zoologica Italiana.