The State of the Reproductive System of Several Fish Species from Water Bodies Polluted with Radionuclides during the Chernobyl Catastrophe

The state of the reproductive system in several fish species—offspring of individuals exposed to radiation as a result of the catastrophe at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP) was studied. Material was collected in water bodies of Ukraine polluted with radionuclides: water cooler of the CNPP (1992, 2002–2004), Lake Glubokoe (2003–2004), Kiev Reservoir, and Teterev River (1997, 1999–2005). It was shown that the total number and the degree of disturbances in gonads of the studied fish species were positively correlated with the levels of pollution of water bodies: in the cleanest water body, Teterev River, the proportion of fish with gonads without considerable deviations was about 78%; in the Kiev Reservoir, 67%; in the water cooler, 51%; and in Lake Glubokoe, 45%. By the number and pattern of gonad anomalies, species specificity in their response to the radiation background was revealed. A smaller degree of damage of sexual cells and gonads in unisexual (triploid) populations of goldfish Carassius auratus reproducing gynogenetically, as compared to bisexual (diploid) populations, was detected. Among postemergency generations of the studied fish species, in all water bodies the number and degree of gonad disturbances were in F2–4, in Kiev Reservoir and Teterev River, this was most likely accounted for by the phenomenon of prolonged mutagenesis.