Impairments on aromatase expression, reproductive behavior and sperm quality of male fishexposed to 17â-estradiol

GUYON N, ROGGIO M, AME M, HUED A, VALDES M, GIOJALAS L, WUNDERLIN D, BISTONI M.

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY

SETAC PRESS

Lugar: Pensacola; Año: 2011

0730-7268

There is growing evidence that environmental estrogen can reachhigh enough levels to exert adverse reproductive effects on wildfish populations. We report different parameters of malereproductive behavior, brain and gonadal aromatase expression,and sperm quality in an internally fertilizing fish species (Jenynsiamultidentata, Jenyns) exposed to environmentally relevantconcentrations of 17â-estradiol (E2). Adult males were exposed to0, 50, 100 and 250 ng/L E2 during 28 d. Our findings demonstratedEnvironmental Toxicology and Chemistrythat E2 exposure resulted in a very clear increase in brainaromatase transcript abundance at all assayed concentrations incomparison to control, however no effects on gonadal aromataseexpression were observed. Behavioral measures revealed anexacerbated sexual activity at 50ng/L E2. In contrast to themolecular and behavioral responses, the condition factor,gonadosomatic index and sperm quality were unaltered by E2exposure. The results from the present work suggest that E2 affectssome aspects of the reproductive biology of J. multidentata. Thesemodifications in the reproductive biology caused by exposure to E2could potentially lead to long term effects at population levels thatmay not always be immediately evident. To the extent of ourknowledge, this is the first report on the combined effect of E2 onseveral reproductive fish functions.