Lindane toxicity on early life stages of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) with a note on its histopathological manifestations

Eggs/embryos and larvae were exposed to nominal concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 mg/L lindane. High percentage of mortality was observed in larvae exposed to 1 mg/L (76.38%) and in embryos exposed to 10 mg/L (81.98%) of lindane at 24 h exposure. The acute toxicity expressed as LC50 48-h was 0.122 mg/L for embryos and 0.318 mg/L for larvae. Larvae alterations included weak swimming, incapacity to respond to external stimuli, uncoordinated movements, trembling, myoskeletal defects, opaque skin and exophthalmia. Mucous epithelium of the digestive tissue showed a severe alteration with hypertrophy and desquamation of mucous cells. A high cellular disorganization in the renal and hepatic tissue is observed. Results obtained showed the sensitivity of Sparus aurata early life stages to lindane and the presence of sublethal effects like histopathological alterations; therefore, the relevance of pesticides substances control in the aquatic environment.