Changes in Muscle and Collagen Fibers of Fish after Exposure to Urban Pollutants and Biodegradable Detergents

Abstract

Fish populations are sensitive to environmental impact resulting from many factors, as an introduction of exotic species, industrial or residual waste, oil spills, pesticides or other agents that can directly affect the ecology and species survival. Astyanax altiparanae is pelagic and active swimmer specie and can have serious implications on its way of life as changes in muscle structure of fish may occur since the presence of pollutants in the water. In this study we analyze the alterations in Muscle and collagen fibers of the pectoral muscles and pollutants exposed flows contained in water with biodegradable detergents, and water coming from the Blue Lake, River clear-SP (2˚24'39"S, 47˚33'39"E) diluted. Effects of these exposures were analyzed during the period of seven and thirty days. Compared with acclimatized fish (Astyanax altiparanae) with pure water from an artesian well, the muscle fibers morphology and collagen concentration on them have changed due to the exposure to urban pollutants and biodegradable detergents