Effects of the herbicide Roundup™ on the ultrastructural pattern of hepatocytes in carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Experimental studies were performed on healthy, 80-100 g carp (Cyprinus carpio). Fish were exposed by emersion in Roundup(TM) (205 mg of glyphosate/l or 410 mg of glyphosate/l) in concentrations of 40- to 20-fold lower than those used in practice. Electron microscopy revealed that the herbicide caused appearance of myelin-like structures in carp hepatocytes, swelling of mitochondria and disappearance of internal membrane of mitochondria in carp at both exposure concentrations. It means that Roundup was harmful to carp when used in applied concentrations. Results of these studies enhance our knowledge of ultrastructural pathomorphology of fish organs following exposure to Roundup. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.