| Cadmium is an important metal for modern industrial processes and, being biologically non-essential, poses health hazards to the organisms. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effect of cadmium exposure on the histo-cytology of prolactin cells in the freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes (H.) fossilis. Fish were subjected to 288 mg/L (0.8 of 96 h LC50) and 72 mg/L (0.2 of 96 h LC50) of cadmium chloride for short-term and long-term, respectively. After sacrificing the fish, the blood was collected on 24, 48, 72 and 96 h in short-term and after 7, 14, 21, and 28 days in long-term experiment and analyzed for plasma calcium levels. Also, pituitary glands were fixed on these intervals. The plasma calcium levels of short-term cadmium exposed fish remain... |
