Effects of mancozeb on the testicular histology of the zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the mancozeb-induced histological alterations in the testis of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Mancozeb exposure caused severe pathological conditions such as seminiferous tubule disorganizations, degenerative spermatogenic cells and decreased count of sperms. These results suggest that mancozeb could interrupt the reproductive activity and decrease the fertilization ratio of zebrafish. Reproduction is a critical and sensitive process for population continuity of the externally fertilizing aquatic organisms. Environmental pollution may adversely effect the reproductive activities of fish. Pesticides are the mobile chemicals that are known to pollute the aquatic ecosystems. Mancozeb is an ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicide that is frequently used to protect fruits, vegetables, vineyards and field crops against a wide range of fungal diseases. The aim of the current work was to evaluate the acute toxic effects of mancozeb on the testis tissues of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zebrafish were exposed to 5 ppm and 7.5 ppm of mancozeb concentrations for five days. Testis tissues were removed and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution. Specimens were embedded in paraffin and 5 mu m serial sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The control and the experimental samples were investigated by light microscopy and histopathological changes were evaluated. Mancozeb gave rise to degenerative spermatogenic cells, seminiferous tubule disorganizations, fibrosis, hemorrhage, vacuolization, hypertrophy of spermatocytes, edema, decreased spermatogenic cell clusters and sperms, pyknotic and karyolytic nuclei. These results showed that mancozeb could interrupt the reproductive activity and decrease the fertilization ratio of zebrafish.