Histopathological Assessment of Heavy Metal Toxicity in the Gonads of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from the Rosetta Branch, Nile River, Egypt | ||||
| African Journal of Biological Sciences | ||||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 26 July 2025 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ajbs.2025.402096.1131 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Anas A Heiba   1; medhat h Hashem2; Safaa a Tayel3; Midhat a El-Kasheif3; ebrahim sabra 4
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| 16 el-ramla st | ||||
| 2Genetic Engineering and biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat city, Sadat city, Egypt | ||||
| 3National Institute of oceanography and fisheries | ||||
| 4animal biotechnology department,genetic engineering and biotechnology research institute ,university of Sadat city | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| This study was designed to evaluate the reproductive toxicity of heavy metal pollution from the El-Rahawy drain by assessing histopathological alterations in the gonads of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. The gonads were selected as a critical indicator of population health. Water samples were collected seasonally from three sites (upstream, at the discharge point, and downstream), while fish specimens were collected from the upstream (reference) and downstream sites. Water analysis confirmed that concentrations of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and particularly manganese (Mn) at the polluted sites significantly exceeded environmental safety guidelines. Histopathological examination revealed a stark contrast between the two fish groups. Fish from the reference site displayed normal gonad structure, whereas those from the polluted downstream site exhibited severe lesions, including extensive follicular atresia in ovaries and widespread degeneration of spermatogenic cells in testes. These results establish a strong link between the complex metal pollution originating from the drain and profound reproductive impairment. Our findings underscore the importance of gonadal histopathology as a sensitive biomarker for assessing population-level risks and highlight the urgent threat that industrial and agricultural effluents pose to the viability of the Nile's fishery resources. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Oreochromis niloticus; Heavy Metals; Gonads; Histopathology; Water Pollution | ||||
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