Haematological and histopathological changes during carrageenan induced acute inflammatory response in Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) fingerlings

Abstract

Inflammation is a non-specific protective immune response and the study was designed to evaluate the acute inflammatory response induced by I-carrageenan in Rohu, Labeorohita. The carrageenan (0.5%) was intraperitoneally injected 50 l/fish and the inflammatory response was studied at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 96 hours post injection by observation of hematological parameters i.e total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC), haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and tissue samples for histopathological changes. Carrageenan injection revealed typical inflammatory response at the site of inflammation and continued to increase till 96 hours post injection. There was significant decrease in the TEC and Hbconcentration, whereas the TLC were increased up to 48 hours and thereafter decreased. Carrageenan injected fish showed typical inflammatory sign at the site of injection with ultra-structural changes in the liver, kidney and muscle tissue. Alteration of hematological and histopathological changes during carrageenan injected fishes will help in better understanding of inflammatory response during infection process in the native fish.