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Research article2016Peer reviewed

Sexual disruption in zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to mixtures of 17α-ethinylestradiol and 17β-trenbolone

Örn, Stefan; Holbech, Henrik; Norrgren, Leif

Abstract

Environmental estrogens and androgens can be present simultaneously in aquatic environments and thereby interact to disturb multiple physiological systems in organisms. Studies on interaction effects in fish of androgenic and estrogenic chemicals are limited. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate feminization and masculinization effects in zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to combinations of two synthetic steroid hormones detected in environmental waters: the androgen 17 beta-trenbolone (Tb) and the oestrogen 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2). Juvenile zebrafish were exposed between days 20 and 60 post-hatch to different binary mixtures of Tb (1, 10, and 50 ng/L) and EE2 (2 and 5 ng/L). The endpoints studied were whole-body homogenate vitellogenin concentration at 40 days post-hatch, and sex ratio including gonad maturation at 60 days post-hatch. The feminizing potency of 5 ng/L of EE2, alone as well as in combination with Tb, was clear in the present study, with exposures resulting in almost all-female populations and females being sexually immature. Masculinization effects with male-biased sex ratios were observed when fish were exposed to 2 ng/L of EE2 in combination with Tb concentrations. Intersex fish were observed after exposure to mixtures of 2 ng/L EE2 with 50 ng/L Tb. Sexual maturity generally increased among males at increasing concentrations of Tb. The results of the present study show that exposure to environmentally relevant mixtures of an oestrogen and androgen affects the process of gonad differentiation in zebrafish and lead to sexual disruption. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Zebrafish; Danio rerio; Vitellogenin; Sex ratio; 17 alpha-Ethinylestradiol; 17 beta-Trenbolone

Published in

Environmental toxicology and pharmacology
2016, Volume: 41, pages: 225-231
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

      SLU Authors

      • Sustainable Development Goals

      Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

      UKÄ Subject classification

      Other Biological Topics
      Developmental Biology
      Ecology

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2015.12.010

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/79582