Impairments induced by sublethal doses of two pesticides in the ovaries of a freshwater teleost Channa striatus Bloch.

Impairments induced by sublethal doses of two pesticides Carbaryl and Endosulfan have been studied on the ovaries of a freshwater teleost Channa striatus by exposing the fish for a period of 2 to 30 days during the spawning season. The pesticide exposure produced reduction in the number of oocytes, reduction in size and deformity in different stages of oocytes, damage to yolk vesicles in maturing and mature oocytes, increase in the number of atretic oocytes, development of interfollicular spaces, increase in the connective tissue of tunica albuginea, dilation of blood vessels and reduction in the gonadosomatic index. The histopathological effects were dependent on the dose, duration of exposure, and the type of pesticide. Sublethal doses of Endosulfan were more toxic than those of Carbaryl.