While checking the toxicity potential of nano zinc oxide (ZnO) on teleost fish model, Japanese medaka (Oryziaslatipes), Dr. Bindhu Paul, Assistant Professor, Amrita Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine (ACNSMM), Kochi and team, observed that porous nano zinc oxide particles abolished the male-specific sexual and terrestrial behavioral patterns leading to mating incompetence. The major male-specific androgen hormone was also reduced in response to p-nZnO both in the brain and testes.

These effects were absent in fish exposed to an equivalent concentration of bulk ZnO particles. This test confirmed that the ZnO at nanoscale is apparently more reactive and toxic. This work was supported by the Department of Biotechnology and Department of Science and Technology.