The Effect of Physiological and Environmental Factors on the Number and Distribution of Lymphoid Cells in Kidney of Chacalburnus chalcodies

We aimed to evaluate the effect of physiological and environmental factors on the number and distribution of lymphoid cells in the kidney of Chacalburnus chalcodies. Overall, 84 fish were collected from three sampling stations (sea, river, and estuary) in the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, Gilan Province, northern Iran during 12 months. After biometry and determination of age and sex, the kidney was removed and fixed for histological studies. The highest distribution of lymphoid cells was observed during the summer and the lowest during the winter. Linear regression showed a significant correlation between water temperature and lymphoid cell distribution (P<0. 05). Pearson correlation test showed a significant positive correlation between lymphoid cells distribution with water, air temperature and dissolved oxygen (P<0. 05). Distribution of lymphoid cells had a significant and negative correlation with salinity so that their distribution in the sea was significantly less than the river and estuary. Distribution of lymphoid cells was not statically significant based on fish gender. Distribution of lymphoid cells in kidney Ch. chalcodies had a reverse correlation with age, total length and weight (P<0. 01).