Cadmium alters the reproductive endocrine disruption and enhancement of growth in the early and adult stages of Oreochromis mossambicus.

Heavy metal cadmium (Cd) traces are able to promote growth (growth promoter) and induce early maturation in Oreochromis mossambicus fries of both sexes, whereas, in the adults, they degenerate the gonads and their function. The gathered data on length-weight relation, gonado-somatic index, hepato-somatic index, egg numbers and reproductive hormones such as gonadotropins (GtH-I and GtH-II) and gonadial hormones such as progesterone, testosterone and estradiol levels all prove Cd as an endocrine disruptor.