Fish in focus: Navigating organ damage assessment through analytical avenues - A comprehensive review

Abstract

Aquatic ecosystems, critical for biodiversity and food production, confront escalating threats from anthropogenic activities like pollution and climate change, impacting fish health. This review outlines various assays used to study organ damage in fish, ranging from traditional histopathology to advanced molecular and biochemical methods. The aim is to guide researchers in selecting suitable assays for their specific questions, considering the advantages and limitations of each technique. Covered methods include histopathological assessment, biomarker analysis, genotoxicity assays, oxidative stress indicators, and non-invasive imaging. The review explores their application in monitoring environmental stressors' impacts on fish organs, emphasizing emerging trends like omics technologies and non-destructive imaging for comprehensive assessments. These innovations hold promise for early detection and understanding the implications on fish populations and ecosystem health.

Keywords: Aquatic ecosystems; Biomarker analysis; Environmental stressors; Fish health; Organ damage assessment.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1

Flowchart illustrating changes in chemical, biochemical, physiological, and other responses triggered by exposure to metals .

Fig. 2

A schematic representation illustrating the presence and movement of heavy metals within an aquatic system .

Fig. 3

Visual Summary of Chosen Analytical Methods Utilized with Fish Blood .

Fig. 4

The impacts of oxidative stress .

Fig. 5

The molecular compositions of DCFH-DA, DCFH, and DCF, as well as the fluorescence signal emitted by DCFH-DA .

Fig. 6

A visual representation illustrating the procedural steps involved in conducting a comet assay .