Bioaccumulation of hexachlorocyclohexane, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and estradiol-17β in catfish and carp during the pre-monsoon season in India

Abstract

This investigation was performed to monitor hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT, and its metabolites, refered to as DDTs), plasma levels of estradiol-17beta (E2), and the gonadosomatic index (GSI) between sampling sites of unpolluted ponds of Gujartal, Jaunpur (control site) and the polluted rivers Gomti (Jaunpur) and Ganga (Varanasi), which affect the reproductive physiology of some edible catfish and carp during the pre-monsoon season. HCHs and DDTs were measured by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) and hormones by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The results indicated that the level of HCHs and DDTs was very high in both the catfish and the carp captured from the polluted rivers compared with the fish captured from the control site. The GSI and E2 values were lower in both groups of fish when compared to the fish from the control site. The results also indicate that catfish showed greater bioaccumulation of HCHs and DDTs than carp, above the permissible limit, as compared to the fish from the control site. In conclusion, fish from the Gomti and Ganga rivers were highly polluted when compared with fish from the control site, as was evident from high levels of tissue bioaccumulation of HCHs and DDTs and decreased levels of plasma E2, inhibiting the reproductive physiology of these species at the receptor level. The levels exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRL) as recommended by Codex, hence it is suggested that the fish should be avoided for food purposes.

Assessment of the health status of wild fish inhabiting a cotton basin heavily impacted by pesticides in Benin (West Africa)

“…However, in contrast to our study, these authors did not detect a decrease in the 11-KT. Singh and Singh (2008a) also found a significant decline in the 11-KT levels in Asian stinging catfish that were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of cypermethrin over 45 days, whereas the plasma levels of E2 were not modified. In our study the simultaneous variations of E2 and T plasma levels could be explained by a stimulatory effect from pesticides on the aromatase activity, increasing the conversion of T to E2 (Simpson et al, 1994;Soverchia et al, 2005), as was suggested by the increase in the E2/T ratio in fish from the contaminated sites.…”

“…Goldfish exposed to 1000 μg/L of atrazine for 21 days displayed atretic oocytes (Spano et al, 2004). The presence of pre-ovulatory atretic oocytes was reported in Asian stinging catfish exposed to cypermethrin (Singh and Singh, 2008a), in African catfish sampled from an urban nature reserve in South Africa (Pieterse et al, 2010) and in Mozambique tilapia exposed to DDT (Mlambo et al, 2009).…”

Cypermethrin-Induced in vitro Alterations on Oxidative Stress and Quality of Salmo coruhensis Spermatozoa

“…To date, studies have been conducted on some aspects of reproduction in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.), 25 reproductive behaviour of S. trutta, 22 histological changes in gonadotrophic cells, liver, gonads, plasma levels of estradiol-17b and 11-ketotestosterone, and sperm motility in Heteropneustes fossilis. 26 haemoglobin and haematocrit of Capoeta capoeta capoeta 33 oxidative status in different tissues and erythrocytes of Channa punctata and Unio elongatulus eucirrus.…”

“…21,23 Previous studies have shown that CYP affects reproductive functions, and may cause sperm damage and immobility in different aquatic animals. 21,24,25 Nevertheless the impact of CYP on the endangered trout Salmo coruhensis male gametes has not yet been analyzed. For these reasons, the present study focused on short-term (2 h) in vitro exposure of sperm cells of S. coruhensis to CYP.…”

Toxicity bioassay of lead acetate and effects of its sub-lethal exposure on growth, haematological parameters and reproduction in Clarias gariepinus

“…Lahnsteiner et al (2005) have also reported the inhibition of maturation and quality of semen and eggs in Salmo trutta following exposure of bisphenol during spawning phase. Singh and Singh (2008) have reported the presence of c-HCH, DDT and chlorpyrifos beyond the permissible limit in gonads of some edible catfish and carps during pre-monsoon season captured from the polluted rivers Gomti and Ganga. Generally, the scale and duration of motility was reduced in the edible fishes of polluted environments.…”