Fig. 4

Histological alterations in E. foetida samples from conditioned soils. A Earthworms from control soils present a normal appearance of the epidermis (1), circular muscle (2), and longitudinal muscle (3). In sections of earthworms from conditioned soils, loss of structural integrity and deformation in the epidermis, in the circular and longitudinal muscles are shown. Transverse sections of E. foetida stained with hematoxylin–eosin. B Nuclei of earthworms from control soils despite lax chromatin with a fine grain. Condensed, fragmented and pyknotic chromatin is observed in nuclei of earthworms from conditioned soils. Transverse sections of E. foetida stained with DAPI. Experiments were repeated at least three times with essentially identical results. (Magnification 40X)