Histopathological effects of environmental pollutants β-HCH and methyl mercury on reproductive organs in freshwater fish

Abstract

From various environmental pollutants studied so far, specific effects on the reproductive system of small fish species Poecilia reticulata (guppy) and Oryzias latipes (medaka) were noted in the case of β-hexachlorocyclohexane (induction of vitellogenesis and hermaphroditism, both indicative of estrogenic activity; 32 μg l ) and methyl mercury (impaired spermatogenesis; 1.8 μg l ). The latter effect was attributed to a disturbance of mitosis.