| In this study, histological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical observations of the gill tissue of two fish species (Plagioscion squamosissimus and Lithodoras dorsalis) were used as biomarkers to assess the ecological conditions of an estuary in the Amazon delta, by relating the health status of the fishes to environmental quality. The gill tissue was analyzed both qualitatively and semi-quantitatively. Marked differences in the type and severity of lesions were verified between species and among study sites. A variety of severe damages were confirmed histologically in specimens from the two impacted areas (B and C), including aneurysms, epithelial lifting, and intense hyperplasia. Electron microscopy and immunohistochemical analyses also revealed... |
