IMPACT OF MICRO PLASTICS EXPOSURE ON VITELLOGENESIS AND SEX HORMONES OF FEMALE MOLE CRAB EMERITA ASIATICA

Abstract

The marine ecosystem now considered as the major concern due to the contamination of micro plastics that affects the marine organisms by accidental ingestion and causes physiological, morphological and genetic profiles. The organisms also effect on endocrine system that leads to reproductive damage, hence the present investigation was focused on the effect of micro plastics exposure on reproductive system of female crab Emerita asiatica. After 24 and 48 days of the experimental periods, the female crabs then estimated for the hormonal changes in the ovaries of mussels by estimating vitellogenin, 17β-estradiol, and testosterone and some biochemical parameters such as protein and glycogen content to observe for toxic stress. The results showed that significant decrease in the vitellogenin and 17β-estradiol besides elevated level of testosterone was observed in the animals exposed for 28 days with 1000 particles mL^-1. In addition to that, level of protein and glycogen level was significantly debited in the hemolymph due to toxic stress. Hence, the present study found that exposure of micro plastics would reduce the reproductive hormones of female crab and affect their reproductive system. Overall, the present study provides the importance of usage and discarding the plastics in the environment. The micro plastic contamination in the environment not only affect the aquatic crustacean’s species, which can ultimately be affecting the Human beings through the collapsing of food chain.