CYTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES OF THE SPINY LOBSTER Panulirus ornatus (FABRICIUS, 1798) EXPOSED TO COPPER

The tissue damage induced by various heavy metals in aquatic animals is well documented, but there is insufficient information relating to the cytological alterations induced by copper in the spiny lobster, Panulirus ornatus.In the present study intermoult juveniles of the spiny lobster, P.ornatus (average weight 100-150gm) were exposed to two sublethal concentrations (13.05 and 26.10µg/l) for a period of 28 days. The gill, muscle, hepatopancreas and gut tissues of the lobster were taken out and processed for light microscopic studies. Exposure to copper was found to be result in several alterations in the histoarchitecture of various tissues of the lobster.The alterations included in gills are epithelial lifting, edema, necrosis and fusion of secondary gill lamellae; wavy appearnce, necrosis and congestion of muscle bundle in muscle tissue; distended lumen and F cell necrosis in hepatopancreas; disarrangement of circular musle and distended lumen in gut. Such alterations could affect the physiological functions which inturn affects the survival and growth of lobster P.ornatus and  therefore all possible remedial measures to be adopted to prevent the occurrence of copper contamination in the aquatic environment.