STUDY OF HISTOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN THE STOMACH OF Tilapia mossambica (Oreochromis mossambicus) EXPOSED TO ACUTE TOXICITY OF SODIUM FLUORIDE DURING WINTER SEASON

The present investigation deals with the effect of acute treatment of sodium fluoride on the histochemical components of the stomach from freshwater fish, Tilapia mossambica (Oreochromis mossambicus). This freshwater fish acute toxicity for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs. exposure of LC0 value 35.0 ppm and LC50 value was 65.0 ppm for 96 hrs. The histochemical observation revealed that the neutral mucosubstances were decreased from the apical border of the superficial epithelia and alveolar pits of stomach after exposure of fishes to LC0 concentration and LC50 concentration of sodium fluoride (for acute treatment). There observed increased depletion of neutral mucosubstances over time of exposure and highly increased concentration of acidic mucosubstances. The histochemical changes indicate sodium fluoride is toxic to growth and survival of the species .It is essential to know sodium fluoride is hazardous pollutant. It is essential to make awareness about water pollution. Excess of fluoride is toxic to fishes as well as invertebrates and human. Knowledge about fluoride toxicity and exposure is necessary to prevent fluoride pollution and to improve the health of aquatic animals and human.