The Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Cadmium Exposure in the Gills of Puntius altus

The effects of cadmium and ascorbic acid on the gills of Red-tailed tinfoil barb (Puntius altus) were compared using light and scanning electron microscopic study for the period 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. The main alterations in the cadmium treated group were edema, filament cell proliferation, lamellar cell hyperplasia, lamellar fusion, epithelial lifting and aneurysm. These changes occurred predominantly in the 96 h treatment. In the combination of cadmium and ascorbic acid treated group, they showed similar alterations as those observed in the cadmium treated alone group but they were less severe.