Cytopathology of the brain and retina of embryonic surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) exposed to crude oil

In laboratory experiments, surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) embryos were exposed to 54 or 113 ppb of the seawater-accommodated fraction (SWAF) of Cook Inlet crude oil (CICO) for 3 hr per day, beginning 6 days after fertilization. Embryos 21 and 27 days old (just prior to hatching) exposed to CICO were examined for morphological abnormalities. The only tissues that showed morphological changes in both the 21- and 27-day-old CICO-exposed smelt were the forebrain and the neuronal layer of the retina: both contained numerous necrotic neurons. The retinal receptor cells appeared normal in 21-day-old exposed smelt; in contrast, in 27-day-old treated embryos the ellipsoid and myoid regions of the receptor cell inner segments were severely damaged. Further impact from the SWAF of CICO on developing smelt was indicated by a lower hatching success: approximately 10% in the exposed groups as compared to 50% in the controls.