EVIDENCE FOR ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING EFFECTS OF LEAD ON TELEOST CIRRHINUS MRIGALA

Abstract

Lead is one of the elements that can be described as purely toxic. Lead displaces biologically important metals interfering with a variety of body's chemical reactions. A variety of environmental contaminants including heavy metals interfere the endocrine axis of fish. Lead is reported with endocrine disruptive potential. Lead affects the hypothalamus pituitary gonadal axis at multiple sites. In the present work an effort is made to explore qualitative changes in the pituitary gland cell types of Cirrhinus mrigala after an acute and chronic exposure to lead. The study revealed the toxic effects of lead on endocrine functions of a teleost which further affects the fecundity of fish. The present study provides a manifold confirmation on the endocrine disrupting effects of lead in fish