Effects of atrazine on ovarian growth, in the estuarine crab Neohelice granulata

SILVEYRA, G.R.; CANOSA, I.S.; RODRÍGUEZ, E.M.; MEDESANI, D.A.

COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

Año: 2017 vol. 192 p. 1 - 6

1532-0456

Atrazine, a herbicide that is intensively used in Argentina, was assayed to evaluate the alteration of reproduction in a wild species of crustaceans. Adult females of the estuarine crab Neohelice granulata were exposed to formulated atrazine during the 3-month pre-reproductive period. Three atrazine concentrations (0.03, 0.3 and 3 mg/L) were assayed, together with a water dilution control. At the end of the exposure period, several variables concerning the energetic status of animals were measured, such as weight gain, glycemia, and energy reserves in both muscle and hepatopancreas. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) was also determined, as well as the proportion and relative area of each oocyte type in histological sections. Besides, the total content of vitellogenin proteins (Vg) in both ovary and hepatopancreas was measured. A significant (p