Abstract

HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN GONADS OF FRESH WATER FISHES DUE TO HEAVY METAL POLLUTION

Kiran Khillare*, Y. K. Khillare and Umesh Wagh

ABSTRACT

The heavy metal, chromium isnaturally occurring element found in rocks, animals, plants, water and soil. Intense industrialization and other anthropogenic activities have led to the global occurrence of all these heavy metals, which is readily leached from soil to groundwater or surface water, in concentrations above permissible levels. The ecotoxicology of heavy metals is linked to its environmental persistence and the ability to induce a variety of adverse effects in biologic systems, including fish. Exposure to sublethal hexavalent chromium (as 2 and 4 mg L21 potassium dichromate for 1and 2 months) during late preparatory to mid prespawning phase of annual reproductive cycle severelyaffected theovary of a Channa punctatus. During study, it was concluded that incidences of gonadal abnormalities in the form of deformed oocytes, reduction in their number.

Keywords: Chromium, Godavari river, Channa punctatus, histology, ovary.