Subproject 54

Determination of Sanitary Status and Pathological Changes in Paraopeba River Basin Fish

This subproject aims to determine pathological changes in fish from the Paraopeba River associated with limnological changes, contamination by metals and metalloids, and toxic organic compounds in order to determine the health status and medium and long-term impact on fish populations. This purpose unfolds into the following specific objectives:

  • Carry out the histopathological evaluation of the organs and tissues collected from the fish, which are necropsied under subproject 04;
  • Perform the integrated evaluation of the necropsy data produced under subproject 4, the toxicological data of subproject 26 and the results to be obtained in this call, in order to produce a technical report, with the determination of pathological and sanitary status of fish in the Paraopeba River Basin;
  • Assess and estimate possible interferences of limnological changes in the water of the Paraopeba River and contamination by metals and metalloids in fish populations in the medium and long term;
  • Perform electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis of organs and tissues collected from fish to assess the cellular mechanisms and molecular pathways involved in the histopathological processes of Organs analyzed organs.

Methodological steps

1st Stage – Preparation of biological samples: All fish species collected in subproject 04 will have the aforementioned organs dissected and fixed in specific reagents to perform the proposed techniques and analyses;

2nd Step – Morphological and histopathological analysis: verification of abnormalities in the tissues analyzed, as well as detecting specific cellular pathologies and mechanisms, such as autophagy, apoptosis, necrosis and fibrosis.

3rd Step – Immunohistochemistry and western blot: Biomarker proteins related to metal contamination, oxidative stress, autophagy, cell death by apoptosis and necrosis, fibrosis and proliferative activity will be evaluated by immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence.

4th Step – Data Analysis and Compilation.

Subproject Timeline 54

Month 1 (
Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
Month 5
Month 6
Month 7
Month 8

• Acquisition of inputs, materials and equipment
• Formation and training of the executing team
• Histological processing of organs/tissues

• Acquisition of inputs , materials and equipment
• Formation and training of the executing team
• Histological processing of organs/tissues
• Transmission electron microscopy
• Histopathological and morphometric analysis
• Immunohistochemistry and Western Blot
• Preparation of partial reports

• Histological processing of the organs/tissues
• Transmission electron microscopy
• Histopathological and morphometric analysis
• Immunohistochemistry and Western Blot
• Data analysis and systematization

• Transmission electron microscopy
• Histopathological and morphometric analysis
• Immunohistochemistry and Western Blot
• Data analysis and systematization
• Structuring and preparation of results/integrated evaluation
• Preparation of partial reports

• Immunohistochemistry and Western Blot
• Data analysis and systematization
• Structuring and preparation of results/integrated evaluation

• Analysis and systematization of data
• Structuring and preparation of results/integrated evaluation
• Preparation of partial reports
• Preparation of final technical report

• Report writing final technician
• Preparation of report for non-specialized audience / presentation of results

• Report writing for non-specialized audience/presentation of results

Meet the team!