Statistical analysis of anionic detergent-induced changes in the goblet mucous cells of opercular epidermis and gill epithelium of Rita rita (Ham.) (Bagridae: Pisces).

Rita rita exposed to 96-hr LC50 (6.9 mg/liter) of an anionic detergent, dodecylbenzene sodium sulfonate, show significant changes in the number and size of goblet mucous cells in the opercular epidermis as well as in the lining epithelium of the gill arch and the gill filament at different time intervals of treatment. A shift in the staining nature of these cells from acidic glycoprotein to neutral glycoprotein, acidic glycosaminoglycans in the opercular epidermis and acidic glycoprotein to neutral glycoprotein and then again to acidic glycoprotein + acidic glycosaminoglycans in the gill filament epithelium reflects a change in the physiological status of fish.