Descrição morfofuncional do hepatopâncreas do caranguejo azul Cardisoma guanhumi (Latreille, 1828) (Decapoda: Gecarcinidae) do estuário do Rio Jaguaribe

Abstract

The hepatopancreas is the largest metabolic center of decapods, as it is where the biotransformation and accumulation of inorganic materials and toxic xenobiotics occurs, in addition to the rapid ability to react to changes in the external environment, and this organ is the focus of research as an important indicator of environmental risk. The species Cardisoma guanhumi was chosen as a model for the histological description of the hepatopancreas in this work, in order to contribute with knowledge about the biology of the animal and provide a database for future environmental studies. For this, from the hepatopancreas extracted from 28 individuals collected in the estuarine region of the Jaguaribe River, histological slides stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin and Mallory's Trichrome were prepared for microscopic analysis. In the hepatopancreas of Cardisoma guanhumi, the four cell types (E, F, B, R) described in the literature were evidenced, yet there were also signs of stress at the cellular level. The histology of the hepatopancreas of Cardisoma guanhumi showed morphological characteristics similar to those previously described for Decapods, however the degenerative processes found during this study indicate that there is possibly influence of pollutants or pathogens in the organ. The cells that make up the hepatopancreas are highly specialized, which justifies the multifunctionality and consequent classification as the main metabolic organ of the decapods. The continuation of histological analyzes of the hepatopancreas of C. guanhumi is indicated for a greater understanding of the cell physiology of the organ in the group and the environmental situation of the Jaguaribe River valley.