Influence of aromatic hydrocarbons on the distribution of mucopolysaccharides associated with the gill and nasal mucosa

Abstract

Selective aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, xylene and naphthalene have been analyzed as to their relative toxicities to acquatic organisms. The aromatic hydrocarbon fraction of JP-4 jet aviation fuel, which consists of benzene, xylene and toluene induces cellular lesions in a variety of internal organs of the fat-head minnow.The primary objective of the investigation was to determine the acute ultrastructural effects of the water soluble fraction of petroleum-derived JP-4 aviation fuel on the distribution of mucopolysaccharides normally associated with surfaces of the gill and nasal mucosa of the fat-head minnow. Ruthenium red, a hexavalent cation, was employed as a visual marker for the presence of mucopolysaccharides.Fish were exposed to a 60% concentration of the water soluble fraction of JP-4. At the time periods of 2, 6 and 12 hours subsequent to the initial exposure, a select number of fish were removed from the solution and the gills and sections of the nasal mucosa were excised. The tissues were immersed for 1 hour in 0.1M cacodylate-buffered (pH 7.4) 2.5% glutaraldehyde containing 500 ppm ruthenium red.