Acute spill‐mimicking exposure effect of hexavalent chromium on the pituitary‐ovarian axis of a teleost,Channa punctatus (Bloch)

Acute exposure to hexavalent chromium (as 10, 20, and 40 mg/L potassium dichromate for 96 h) adversely affected the pituitary‐ovarian axis of a teleost Channa punctatus. The toxic impact of metal exposure on fish ovary was revealed in the form of increased percentage of atretic follicles, significantly in 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L exposure groups. The follicular atresia mostly occurred in vitellogenic (stage II and stage III) oocytes. Reduction of serum level of 17β‐estradiol was also significant in 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L exposure groups. The increase of LH‐immunointensity of pituitary gonadotrophs (LHβ‐immunoreactive cells) and their hypertrophy was evident, significantly in fish of 40 mg/L exposed group. Thus, the present acute metal spill‐mimicking laboratory study clearly demonstrated that short‐term exposures to high doses of hexavalent chromium may disrupt reproduction of the fish and affect their population. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 733–739, 2014.