Liver damage due to the administration of phenylhydrazine in Ictalurus sp.

Specimens of catfish (Ictalurus sp.) were treated with a sublethal dose of phenylhydrazine in order to reveal any liver ultrastructural alterations. Transmission electron microscope ultrastructural analysis of hepatocytes from liver fragments were compared with controls. From the 3rd day after administration of phenylhydrazine, in the vicinity of blood vessels, ultrastructural alterations of the hepatocytes were observed. By day 15 the hepatic parenchyma was manifesting maximum degeneration. An autoregenerative phase of the liver parenchyma was evident on the 21st day