Author(s): N Sumi and KC Chitra

Abstract: Among the engineered carbon nanomaterials, fullerene (C₆₀) is the most common 60-carbon atom molecule, which is arranged in a stable and symmetrical sphere with unique physico-chemical properties. Fullerene, a lipophilic compound possesses the ability to interact with all phospho-lipid membranes. The present study was aimed to evaluate that if fullerene C₆₀ exposure could cause alteration in the histopathology of gill, liver and muscle tissues of the freshwater fish, Pseudetroplus maculatus. Fishes were exposed at 0.1mg/L of fullerene-C₆₀ for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h maintaining the control group. At the end of every exposure period, fishes were sacrificed and tissues fixed in 10% buffered formalin. Histopathological analysis in control gill tissue showed normal gill architecture with compact lamellar gill epithelium, gill arches along with primary and secondary lamellae. Fullerene C₆₀ exposed groups were shown with some structural alterations such as mucous deposition, aneurysm, loss of secondary lamellae, vacuolisation, curling of secondary lamellae and gill epithelial upliftment. Histoarchitecture of control liver showed normal hepatocytes with spherical nucleus and clear granular cytoplasm. However, exposure to fullerene C₆₀ caused histopathological alterations such as vacuolisation, blood infiltration, necrosis and fusion of hepatic nucleus. Muscle tissue of control group showed normal muscle fibre with spindle nucleus. Exposure to fullerene caused disorganized muscle fibres with irregular or absence of nucleus. From the present findings it was clearly understood that fullerene C₆₀ could cause adverse histopathological alterations in gill, liver and muscle tissues that could seriously affect the fish population near the exposure line

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