Ovarian Histological Analysis of <i>Anabas testudineus</i> as a Marker for Pesticide Residue Analysis in Freshwater Ecosystems

Abstract

In response to the increasing need for sustenance for the global human population, agricultural areas have witnessed the widespread application of pesticides. However, this practice has led to the subsequent runoff to the neighbouring water bodies, ultimately contributing to the degradation of ecosystems. The primary objective of this study is to examine the detrimental impacts on the histological structure of the ovary in Anabas testudineus fish species when exposed to both the 96-hour Lethal Concentration (LC50) and sublethal concentration of endosulfan (one-tenth of 96-hour LC50) over 30 days. After the exposure period, live fish were sacrificed and ovaries were dissected, pooled and fixed for routine histological procedures. After being subjected to the median lethal concentration for 96 hours, the pesticide-induced adverse alterations in the structure of the ovaries were studied. The ovaries of A. testudineus exhibited nuclear retraction, free floating follicular lining, adhesion between ovarian follicles, and an elevated count of atretic oocytes following exposure to a sublethal dosage for 30 days. Histopathological investigations provide a helpful means for assessing the ecotoxicity of diverse chemicals, offering significant insights into the adverse effects resulting from the unwise and indiscriminate application of pesticides in agricultural settings. This study reveals the toxicity of organochlorine pesticide endosulfan on the female reproductive system of A. testudineus which directly affects the development and reproduction of fish.