The effect of polychlorinated biphenyl on steroidogenesis and reproduction in the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis).
Livers from brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) held in water containing 3.8 p.p.m. (mg/l) Corexit and in water containing 3.8 p.p.m. Corexit + 0.2 p.p.m. polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) were firmer in texture than livers taken from control trout held in fresh water. The testes from the PCB-treated trout were darker in color, smaller in size, contained less spermatic fluid, and appeared to be regressed when compared with testes from the control fish. Only 72% of the eggs from PCB-treated trout hatched compared to 92% for control eggs when eggs were incubated in fresh water. Fertilized eggs incubated in water containing 0.2 p.p.m. PCB + 3.8 p.p.m. Corexit resulted in less than 1% of the eggs from the untreated fish and none of the eggs from PCB-treated fish being hatched. The young fish from the control group lived only a few days in the water containing PCB. PCB greatly stimulated the in vitro 11beta-hydroxylation of testosterone by trout testicular tissue. There was no significant change in 11-ketotestosterone blood levels in maturing brook trout after treatment with 3.8 p.p.m. Corexit or 3.8 p.p.m. Corexit + 0.2 p.p.m. PCB for 21 days during the final stages of maturation. It is thought that sublethal levels of PCB can interfere with the reproduction process in this species.
D000818:Animals; D001140:Aroclors / Q000494:pharmacology; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005260:Female; D006914:Hydroxysteroids / Q000378:metabolism; D007664:Ketosteroids / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000032:analysis; D010063:Ovum / Q000032:analysis; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012487:Salmonidae / Q000502:physiology*; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D014022:Tissue Survival; D014337:Trout / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D001140:Aroclors; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D006914:Hydroxysteroids; D007664:Ketosteroids; D013256:Steroids; D013739:Testosterone; D011284:Pregnenolone; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls