The Heavy Metal Mercury is a Threat to Animal Life: A Study on Male Gametogenesis in Gesonula Punctifrons

ABSTRACT

The effect of mercury was investigated on the animal model, Gesonula punctifrons, concerning their gamete producing activity. Mature male grasshoppers treated with 1 mg of mercuric chloride per kg of fodder, exhibited a drastic impact on male gametogenesis in this insect species. It was found that due to intake of mercury, a damaging effect on the chromatin material of the cell could be noticed. A devastating effect on the process of spermiogenesis could be noticed on the treated animals. Compared to the normal spermiogenesis, the treated organisms showed notable abnormal features in spermatid maturation. Spermatids showed less condensation of the chromatin along the phases of maturation of the spermatids and accumulation of vacuolar zones within the nuclear chromatin. Eventually this abnormality often led to production of less number of mature sperms with normal morphology. Thus, the toxic effect of mercury may have some damaging effect on the chromatin materials.