Quantitative and Qualitative Composition of the Peripheral Blood of Fish in the Gradient of Long-Term Radiation Exposure

Abstract

The paper deals with analysis of hematological parameters of the common rudd (<i>Scardinius erythrophthalmus </i>L.) and Prussian carp (<i>Carassius gibelio</i> Bloch) from the most radionuclide-contaminated water bodies of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Data on absolute and relative leukocyte composition and morphological disorders of erythrocytes in peripheral blood were obtained. The leukocyte fraction of both fish species similarly responded to the absorbed dose rate. In the doses' range of 5.1-54.1 μGy/h, reactive changes of the compensatory nature were recorded with increase of the leukocytes content at the expense of lymphocyte and granulocyte fractions. Under the higher doses (up to 84.5 μGy/h), hematopoiesis was damaged with sharp decrease of the leukocytes' content and significant changes in leukograms, which was also confirmed by the hematological indices' values. The morphological disorders in erythrocytes increased along with absorbed dose rate.