Effect of Chlordecone on the Reproductive Potential of the Cichlid Fish, Pseudetroplus Maculatus (Bloch, 1795)

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to evaluate that chlordecone, an organochlorine pesticide, possessing estrogenic properties are known to influence the reproductive potential of the cichlid fish, Pseudetroplus maculatus. Chlordecone at two sublethal concentrations, 3.5 and 7µg/L, were exposed to fish for 4, 7, 15 and 30 days in order to evaluate the level of vitellogenin, maintaining the control groups. Vitellogenin concentrations were measured in both male and female fishes by using indirect endpoints, such as alkali-labile phosphoprotein (ALP), total protein and calcium concentrations in the blood plasma. Increase in the concentrations of plasma protein, phosphoprotein, and calcium were time-dependant showing positive correlation when compared with the control groups. The remarkable raise in the level of vitellogenin in male fish indicated the estrogenic effects of chlordecone. However, gonadosomatic index was significantly decreased after the pesticide exposure, which could be due to gonadal-specific chlordecone toxicity. Sperm parameters such as sperm concentrations, viability and motility were evaluated at both sublethal concentrations for 24, 72 and 96 h maintaining the control groups. The significant decrease in the sperm parameters indicated that chlordecone affected normal functions of male gamete. The present results suggested that chlordecone influenced adverse effects on fish reproduction as evidenced by the elevated vitellogenin level in males with alteration in sperm functional parameters, which can be served as biomarker for the estrogenic effects of chlordecone in the cichlid fish.