Endosulfan is toxic to the reproductive health of male freshwater fish, Cyprinion watsoni

Abstract

Endosulfan is an organochlorine pesticide that is toxic to aquatic life. Endosulfan might hamper the reproductive health of indigenous fish in agricultural areas of Pakistan where this pesticide is sprayed widely. The aim of the current study is to investigate the toxic effects of endosulfan on selected reproductive parameters of male freshwater fish, Cyprinion watsoni. Two concentrations of endosulfan (0.5 and 1 ppb for 30 days exposure) were tested for their effects on body weight, body length, and testicular weight, length, and width. Testicular testosterone was assayed from tissue extracts using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). A significant increase in the mortality rate was observed in both treated groups during both spawning and quiescent seasons. The overall behavior of fish in the aquarium was normal in all control and treated groups. However, the treated fish exhibited anxiety after treatment with endosulfan. The body weight and length, and testicular weight, length and width were not significantly different to the control group. The testicular testosterone concentrations were significantly lower in both endosulfan-treated groups compared to the control. The decrease was dose-dependent, with a significant difference between the two treated groups. The histomorphological results demonstrated various testicular alterations in the treated groups. These alterations included an increase in interlobular areas and clumping patterns in spermatocytes/spermatids. Because spermatids eventually differentiate into sperms, their low count will directly result in lower sperm count. Taken together, these results suggest that endosulfan is a toxicant that at least disturbs testosterone levels (possibly others) and negatively impacts the reproductive health of male freshwater fish.

Long-Term Exposure to the Water of Wadi El-Rayan Lakes Induced Testicular Damage and Endocrine Disruption in Mugil cephalus

“…Testosterone levels for juveniles and adult fish have been proven to be suppressed after OCPs exposure in both laboratories and field experiments (Martyniuk et al 2020). Islam et al (2017) reported a significant decrease in the testicular testosterone level of Cyprinion watsoni fish exposed to endosulfan for 30 days. OCPs are also reported to have the ability to alter female-specific hormones and protein production.…”

“…Vergilio et al (2015), reported a reduction in GSI values because of Cd-induced testicular degenerations as On the other side, the high GSI values of reference fish indicate a low pollution level and availability of good nutrients in the selected reference site. Several factors, such as time of sampling, pollution load, food supply, and nutritional status, have been documented to affect the gonadal growth rate within the same species (Islam et al 2017). Fish inhabiting different aquatic environments are never subjected to a single metal but are often exposed to a mixture of multiple metals at different levels.…”

Bioaccumulation and Distribution Behavior of Endosulfan on a Cichlid Fish: Differences Between Exposure to the Active Ingredient and a Commercial Formulation

“…In males of this species, the same commercial formulation did not alter testosterone levels, even though expression of several steroidogenic enzymes was decreased (Rajakumar et al ). A different commercial formulation caused lower testicular testosterone levels following exposure in a cyprinid fish ( Cyprinion watsoni ; Islam et al ). In the present study species, C. dimerus , the active ingredient was capable of disrupting sex steroid production stimulated by gonadotropins in both testes and ovaries (Da Cuña et al ).…”

“…Both isomers can be converted to endosulfan-sulfate (endosulfan-S) by biotic transformation, with α-endosulfan being converted more readily to endosulfan-S (Weber et al 2010). All 3 compounds exhibit high acute toxicity to aquatic organisms, acting as reproductive disruptors in fish (Chakrabarty et al 2012;Senthilkumaran 2015;Islam et al 2017).…”

Impacts of Benzyl Butyl Phthalate on Histo-Architecture of Gonads of African Catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

“…Masouleh et al, [46] was also observed the effect of Diazinon on the testes of Rutilus frissi Kutum and observed the adverse effects on testis with decreased number of spermatozoa, sperms motility and concentration of sperm. Moreover, extensive damage to testicular architecture like thinning of the testicular walls, an increase in the interlobular areas, and loosely arranged cysts in combination with the marked disintegration were seen as toxic effect of endosulfan in the testis of the freshwater fish, Cyprinion watsoni [47].…”