Effect of gamma-irradiation on the differential leukocyte count in fish Poecilia reticulata

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of a single gamma-irradiation with a 60Co source at a dose of 20 Gy (1.05 Gy/min) on the guppy Poecilia reticulata (females, n = 60), which has not been determined before in this fish. We observed food intake, clinical symptoms, pathologicalanatomical and histological changes and differential leukocyte count in the irradiated guppies compared to the control ones. In the first days, timidity and lethargy were observed. The most prominent clinical symptoms observed were exophthalmia, emaciation and intravital haemorrhages. Livers of irradiated guppies were characterized by hepatic steatosis. Leukogram determinations were carried out on days 3, 7, 10, 15, and 20. Relative lymphopaenia was observed in irradiated fish and the mean relative monocyte count in irradiated guppies increased from 8.7 to 20.6 within 3 days. Other important values obtained from the leukogram included relative neutropaenia, eosinopaenia and basopaenia, observed on day 3 after irradiation.