Histopathological study of the liver in abu mullet, Liza abu, and tigertooth croaker, Otolithes ruber, from the Persian Gulf

The Persian Gulf is valuable marine ecosystem. The entrance of industrial waste waters especially from the petrochemical industries located in the cost line of the Persian Gulf resulted in considerable contamination of aquatics lives in this region. The present investigation aimed to study changes in tissue structure of the liver in Otolithes ruber and Liza abu from the Musa creek, situated in the north west of the Persian Gulf, to evaluate the possible effects of environmental pollutants on these fish. In this study, 100 L. abu and O. ruber were collected from five sampling sites in Musa creek, including Petrochemical, Ghanam, Zangi, Douragh and Patil stations. Also, 10 fish/ species were collected from Sajafi creek as a control station. The samples were taken from the liver and were fixed in 15% formalin. Tissue samples were then processed using routine histological methods. Degeneration of cytoplasm, nucleus vacuolization, hemosiderin deposits and destroyed blood cells were the most tissue changes observed. The amount of Degree of Tissue Changes (DTC) for liver of both species was significantly higher and lower at the Petrochemical and Patil stations than other sites. The structural changes observed in both species showed close relation with the level of environmental pollution. In conclusion as it seems, the liver could be considered as an appropriate biomarker to assess the pollution of the region