Effects of sublethal copper concentrations on gills of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei, Boone 1931)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to measure the copper (Cu) concentration in gills of juveniles Litopenaeus vannamei after exposure to Cu at sublethal concentrations, and to evaluate its effect upon the structure of gill tissue. The Cu concentration in gills of control shrimp was 0.075 mg/kg. Copper concentrations increased significantly by 147 %, 180 % and 205 % in gills of shrimp exposed to 0.675, 1.325 and 2.010 mg Cu/L, respectively. After exposure to 0.675 mg Cu/L for 15 days, gill tissue hyperplasia was observed, with a narrowing of the hemolymphatic lacunae. Necrosis and loss of hemolymphatic lacunae were observed at exposures of 1.325 and 2.010 mg Cu/L. © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013.