Testicular Cycle of Colisa fasciatus (Bl. and Schn.) under Hexavalent Chromium Stress

Healthy specimens of Colisa fasciatus exposed to sub lethal concentration of hexavalent chromium (4.8 mg/L) for 15 days revealed no significant alterations in any testicular architecture during its different phases. However, 30 days exposure revealed distarded shape of lobule and lobular wall, scattered interstitial leydig cells during preparatory phase of testicular cycle where as during spawning phase of testicular cycle, dissolution of germinal epithelium, reduced intra lobular spaces and clumping of interstitial leydig cells was noticed. No apparent change was noticed during post spawning phase of testicular cycle. The findings indicate that hexavalent chromium interfers in the testicular physiology during its preparatory and spawning phases except post spawning phase of Colisa fasciatus.