Diagnostic Value of Biochemical and Histopathological Characteristics of the Round Goby Neogobius melanostomus (Gobiidae) in Assessing of Aquatic Environment

Abstract

Study of the transformation of biochemical reactions into histopathological alterations is of importance for their correct use as the biomarkers for early biodiagnostics of the aquatic environment quality. The purpose of the present investigation was to analyze the biochemical characteristics (activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, level of oxidized proteins and lipid peroxidation, albumin and urea concentrations) in tissues of round goby Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814) with different degrees of histopathological alterations. The results of histopathological studies in liver, gills and kidneys of this fish revealed twenty four pathological alterations referring to five types of disorders: circulatory disturbances, inflammatory reactions, progressive and regressive changes, and benign tumors. The relation between some pathological changes (necrosis of nephrocytes, necrosis and atrophy of individual renal tubules; necrosis of hepatocytes) and biochemical parameters (activity of alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase, level of lipid peroxidation) in round goby tissues was found. We demonstrate high diagnostic significance of the combined use of biochemical and histopathological parameters in round goby tissues for assessing the aquatic environment quality.