The SSRI fluoxetine exhibits mild effects on the reproductive axis in the cichlid fish Cichlasoma dimerus (Teleostei, Cichliformes).

DA CUÑA, R.; A. SHIMIZU; REY VAZQUEZ, G.; GENOVESE, G.; DORELLE L.; HOCHT, C; LO NOSTRO, F.

CHEMOSPHERE

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2017 vol. 171 p. 370 - 378

0045-6535

Among the wide variety of pharmaceuticals released into the environment, Fluoxetine (FLX), a selectiveserotonin reuptake inhibitor, is one of the most prescribed for the treatment of major depression. Itinhibits serotonin (5-HT) reuptake at the presinaptic membrane, increasing serotonergic activity. Invertebrates, including fish, the serotonergic system is closely related to the Hypothalamic PituitaryGonadal (HPG) axis which regulates reproduction. As FLX can act as an endocrine disrupting compound(EDC) by affecting several reproductive parameters in fish, the aim of this study was to provide an integralassessment of the potential effect of FLX on the reproductive axis of the Neotropical freshwater fishCichlasoma dimerus. Adult fish were intraperitoneally injected with 2 mg g1 FLX or saline every third dayfor 15 days. No significant differences were found on serotonergic turnover (5-HIAA/5-HT ratio). PituitarybLH content in FLX injected females was significantly higher than control females; no significant differenceswere seen for bFSH content. Sex steroids remained unaltered, both in males and females fish,after FLX treatment. No plasma vitellogenin was induced in treated males. Some alterations were seen intestes of FLX injected males, such as the presence of foam cells and an acidophilic PAS positive, Alcian-Blue negative secretion in the lobular lumen. Although there is no clear consensus about the effect of thisdrug on reproductive physiology, these results indicate that FLX is acting as a mild EDC in adults ofC. dimerus.