The neuropeptide APGWamide induces imposex in the mud snail, Ilyanassa obsoleta.
We investigated whether neuropeptides which control sexual differentiation in mollusks can induce imposex-a condition where female snails grow male accessory sex organs after exposure to tributyltin (TBT). Mud snails, Ilyanassa obsoleta, were dosed with one of four neuropeptides: APGWamide, conopressin, LSSFVRIamide, or FMRFamide for seven or fourteen days. TBT and testosterone (T) were used as positive controls and induced imposex as expected. APGWamide significantly induced imposex, with a threshold dose near 10(-)(16) moles. The other neuropeptides had no effect on imposex induction. We propose that TBT could act as a neurotoxin to induce imposex via abnormal release of APGWamide.
Oberdörster
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Department of Environmental Toxicology, Clemson University, Box 709, Pendleton, SC 29670, USA. eoberdo@clemson.edu
McClellan-Green
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D000818:Animals; D004347:Drug Interactions; D019835:FMRFamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010413:Penis / Q000254:growth & development; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012908:Snails / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
D007447:Invertebrate Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; C063193:alanyl-prolyl-glycyl-tryptophanamide; D013739:Testosterone; C011559:tributyltin; D019835:FMRFamide