Gonadal histology and characteristic histopathology associated with endocrine disruption in the adult fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas).

Abstract Examination of gonadal histopathology has been beneficial in understanding and assessing the effects of potential endocrine disrupting chemicals in fish and other organisms. The present study describes the normal gonadal histology of the fathead minnow ( Pimephales promelas ), a widely used test organism, reviews typical effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals with different modes/mechanisms of action on the histological structure of the ovaries and testes, and recommends methods for optimizing histopathological results.