Study on Pathology of Pike (Esox lucius) Gonad in the Anzali Wetland compared with Amirkolaye Wetland

There is concern over the presence of a broad range of environmental pollutants known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and their disrupting consequences on normal reproductive processes. In the present study, probable abnormality was examined in immature and mature male and female of pike captured from the Anzali wetland (as polluted area with EDCs). A total of 38 pike from the Anzali wetland and 29 pike from the Amirkolaye wetland (as non-polluted area) were taken between October and November 2012. After macroscopic assessment of gonads, histological examination of gonads was performed using light microscope. Results of this study revealed no evidence of abnormality or intersex (the presence of female sexual cells in male gonads and vise versa) suggesting that gonad structure of pike is not affected by contaminants in the Anzali wetland recognized as highly polluted area.