Gills and Liver Histology of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Juveniles Exposed to Acute Datura innoxia Stem Extract

In the present study, juveniles of Clarias gariepinus were exposed to Datura innoxia stem extract in other to determine the Datura innoxia stem extract toxicity to the species at both acute and chronic exposures. The histopathological changes in the gills and liver of Clarias gariepinus were determined. Juveniles of mean weight 19.56 ± 0.7g and mean length 12.42 ±0.3cm were exposed to acute concentrations of 0 (control), 320, 330, 340, 350 and 360mg/l of Datura innoxia stem extract. Effects of Datura innoxia extract stem were measured using behavioral and histopathological indices. The LC50 value of the Datura innoxia stem established for Clarias gariepinus was 334.370 mg/l. Histological changes observed in gills include attenuation and clubbing at the tips of the primary lamellae, mild congestion in the cartilage, intense cellular necrosis, blood congestion, oedema, epithelial lifting and hyperplasia of epithelial cells. Changes in liver exposure include mild congestion of the sinusoids, pyknosis of the nuclei, perivascular cuffing around the central vein, aggregation of nuclei, fibrosis, bile pigment disintegration, eosinophilic granules in the cytoplasm and cytoplasmic vacuolation. The study concludes that the Datura innoxia steam extract was moderately toxic to Clarias gariepinus juveniles. Keywords: Plant stem, Toxicology, Lethal concentration, Histopathology, African catfish