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ABSTRACT
Aquatic pollution caused by the increasing anthropogenic activities threatens the health status of many freshwater ecosystems as this changes the water quality and affects all living organisms. Recently, there has been a serious concern that emerging environmental contaminants known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have the potential to disrupt the endocrine regulation of critical physiological processes in wildlife, especially fish. However, not much is known on the effects of EDCs on fish in the Nigerian freshwater environment. This study was therefore undertaken to assess endocrine-related histopathological alterations of gonadal tissues in male C. gariepinus in Ikpoba River. Two sampling stations were chosen, and a total of 42 adult male C. gariepinus was sampled (June 2019 - September 2019) for histological analysis of gonadal tissues. 47.62% displayed histopathological changes amongst the sampled individuals, including interlobular vacuolation (9.52%), spermatogenic cell condensation (14.29%), empty lobules (2.38%), testicular tissue degeneration (16.67%) and hypertrophy of interstitial component (4.76%) were observed amongst the sampled individuals. Hypertrophy of interstitial component (HIC) and spermatogenic cell condensation were observed in station 2 only while empty lobules was observed in station 1 only and all other conditions were observed in both stations. However, no case of intersex was observed. It was concluded that further field studies are needed in order to understand the risks associated with the effects of endocrine disruption in wild fish populations, including the identification of the responsible EDCs, in Ikpoba River.
