Journal of Environmental Biology

Histopathological changes in testis of the freshwater fish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) exposed to linear alkyl benzene sulphonate (LAS)

Manoj Kumar, S. P. Trivedi*,  Abha Misra  and Shuchi Sharma

*sunil060523@rediffmail.com

Environmental Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226 007, India

(Received: August 29, 2005 ; Revised received: March 25, 2006 ; Accepted: June 21, 2006)

Abstract: The objective of this study was to use the freshwater food fish, Heteropneustes fossilis, as a model to evaluate the concentration-dependent effects of LAS on the testicular structure through short-term static bioassays. Concentration mediated histopathological leisions were observed in testis of H. fossilis, treated with four different concentrations of LAS for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hr. Inference drawn from the study is that the cytotoxic damage is more pronounced in fish exposed to higher concentrations of LAS for shorter durations than lower concentrations of LAS for longer durations. Gross damage of germinal epithelium, inflammatory response, intertubular vacuolations and contraction and condensation in the cells of tubules under all sets of intoxication and exposures are quite suggestive of reproductive impairment leading to delayed gonadal maturity.

Key words:   Heteropneustes fossilis, Detergent, LAS, Testis, Surfactant, Leisions

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