Author(s): Latha Nadkandi Padmanabhan, Sudha Devi Arath Raghavan and Aswani Ayanath

Abstract: This study investigated the impact of methoprene, a juvenile hormone analog, on spermatogenesis of the freshwater crab Travancoriana schirnerae, abundant in the wetlands of Wayanad. Administration of sublethal dose of methoprene demonstrated reduced gonadosomatic indices and considerable degree of changes in the morphology and histoanatomy of the testis leading to partial or total suppression of spermatogenesis during active phase. Histopathological changes include shrinkage and vacuolization of acini, disintegration of basal lamina and germinal epithelium, deformation, disarray and lower chromatin content of primary gonia and a reduction in number of germ cells. Decline in mature sperm concentration, abnormal morphology and irregular arrangement of sperms was also observed in experimental crabs, in contrast to the fully laden acini with mature spermatozoa arranged in circles of control crabs.

Pages: 138-146  |  1034 Views  165 Downloads

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