Dietary Beta-MOS® ameliorated lead induced reproductive toxicity and stress in Nile tilapia

Abstract Lead (Pb) is a hazardous pollutant for living creatures including fish. This study addressed the possible ameliorating effect of dietary Beta-MOS® on Pb induced reproductive toxicity in Nile tilapia. One hundred eighty fish (35.43 ± 0.36 g, 8 weeks age) of mixed sex were randomly allocated into 4 equal groups (3 replicates/group). The first group was control and the second group, received 0.3% dietary Beta-MOS®. The third group was exposed to 10 mg Pb acetate L−1 in water. The fourth group was exposed to 10 mg Pb acetate L−1 in water and nourished with 0.3% dietary Beta-MOS®. The treatments were continued for 60 days. Body weight, gonado-somatic index (GSI), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), cortisol, glucose, gonadal Malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzymes were measured. Histopathological examination of testes and ovaries was performed. Exposure to Pb caused significant (p